T-I  B  R.ARY 

OF  THE. 

U  N  I  VLR.5ITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 

973.74 
1*61 

77 


1UULNO1S  HI8TOXLICAI,  SURVEY 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY, 

SEPT.  2,  1862,— JULY  10,  1865, 

BY 

LIEUT.  W.  H.  BENTLEY, 


WITH   AN    INTRODUCTION   BY 


GENERAL  D.  P.  GBIEB. 


PEORIA,  ILLINOIS: 

EDWARD  HINK,  PRINTER,  ADAMS  ST.,  COR.  HARRISON. 

1883. 


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TO 
MY  COMRADES 

OF    THE 

SEVENTY -SEVENTH, 

FROM    THE 

COLONEL 
WHO  SO  ABLY  COMMANDED  US, 

TO  THK 

DRUMMER  BOY 

WHO  CARRIED  THE  STRETCHER  ON  THE   FIELD  OF    BATTLE, 
AS  A  TRIBUTE  OF  SINCERE  AFFECTION 

FOR  THE  LIVING, 
AND  OF  PROFOUND  SORROW 

FOR  THE  DEAD, 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 
BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


96 1 869 


PREFACE. 


KING  SOLOMON  made  a  centre  shot  when  he  said 
"of  making  many  books  there  is  no  end,"  and 
yet  there  is  always  "  a  long  felt  want"  for  another. 
If  it  were  not  so  the  book  trade  would  be  un- 
profitable. Acting  on  the  belief  that  there  is  a 
a  gap  somewhere  to  be  filled,  this  book  is  writ- 
ten. It  was  first  projected  about  twenty  years 
ago  —  soon  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  The 
writer  had  been  keeping  a  record  of  the  events 
in  which  the  Seventy-Seventh  participated, 
while  those  events  were  transpiring,  and  while 
all  the  circumstances  were  fresh  in  the  mind. 
But  he  did  not  rely  alone  upon  his  own  sight- 
seeing or  his  own  judgment.  Other  members 
of  the  regiment,  from  that  day  to  this,  have  ren- 
.  dered  valuable  assistance.  Among  these  may 
be  mentioned  General  D.  P.  Grier,  Major  J.  M. 
McCulloch,  Lieutenant  Henry  P.  Ayres  and 
J.  H.  Snyder,  Musician  of  Co.  "  I."  The  latter 
kept  a  daily  record  from  first  to  last,  noting  all 
the  occurrences  worth  noting,  with  great  care 
and  accuracy.  To  him  I  am  indebted  for  the 
use  of  his  voluminous  and  interesting  journals. 
Much  of  the  matter  contained  in  these  pages  was 


6  PREFACE. 


derived  from  that  source.  To  all  who  have  as- 
sisted in  any  way,  I  can  only  say,  THANK  YOU, 
while  indulging  the  hope  that  this  work  may 
prove  acceptable  to  the  members  of  the  regiment 
and  their  friends,  and  be  treasured  as  a  memo- 
rial of  the  trying  scenes  through  which  we  were 
called  to  pass. 

It  is  not  the  intention  to  exalt  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  at  the  expense  of  any  other  regiment. 
For  pure,  unselfish  patriotism  —  for  devotion  to 
principle  —  for  endurance  on  the  march  and  for 
gallantry  in  the  field,  the  Volunteer  Army  of  the 
United  States  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
has  no  parallel  in  the  history  of  nations.  But 
while  this  is  true,  each  regiment  has  a  history 
peculiar  to  itself.  And  it  is  only  right  and 
proper  that  it  should  receive  full  credit  for  all  it 
accomplished  while  in  the  service. 

As  the  years  roll  on,  and  as  one  after  another 
takes  up  the  line  of  march  to  that  undiscovered 
country  from  whose  bourne  no  traveler  returns, 
may  the  ties  of  affection  cemented  by  close  com- 
panionship during  those  years  of  bloody  strife, 
grow  stronger  as  the  sun  lengthens  the  shadows 
on  our  pathway  of  life.  And  at  last  may  we 
clasp  glad  hands  and  renew  the  friendships  of 
this  life  in  that  "  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens." 

W.  H.  B. 

PEORIA,  ILL.,  Sept.  2,  1883. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

PAGE. 

BY  GENERAL  D.  P.  GRIER, 9 

CHAPTER  THE  FIRST. 
"THE  LONG  ROLL," 

CHAPTER  THE  SECOND. 

"REVIELLE,"          .  . 

CHAPTER  THE  THIRD. 
To  THE  FRONT, 

CHAPTER  THE  FOURTH. 
ARKANSAS  POST, 

CHAPTER  THE  FIFTH. 

ON  TO   VlCKSBURG, 

CHAPTER  THE  SIXTH. 

VlCKSBURG, 145 

CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTH. 
SUCCESS, 163 

CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTH. 
JACKSON,       • 184 

CHAPTER  THE  NINTH. 
CARROLLTON, lltf> 

CHAPTER  THE  TENTH. 
BAYOU  TKCHE,  205 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  THE  ELEVENTH.  i-A(1E. 

RECRUITS, 218 

CHAPTER  THE  TWELFTH. 
TEXAS, 234 

CHAPTER  THE  THIRTEENTH. 
RED  RIVER, 244 

CHAPTER  THE  FOURTEENTH. 
A.  J.  SMITH,      ^ 260 

CHAPTER  THE  FIFTEENTH. 
PRISON  LIFE, .281 

CHAPTER  THE  SIXTEENTH. 
THE  RETREAT,        .  307 

CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTEENTH. 
GAINES  AND  MORGAN, 319 

CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTEENTH. 
"A  SOFT  THING," 327 

CHAPTER  THE  NINETEENTH. 
MOBILE, 336 

CHAPTER  THE  TWENTIETH. 
"  ALL  PRESENT  OR  ACCOUNTED  FOR,"         .         .        356 

CHAPTER  THE  TWENTY-FIRST. 
"TATTOO," 378 

CHAPTER  THE  TWENTY-SECOND. 

"TAPS,"        .  .        385 


INTRODUCTION. 


ST.  Louis,  July  28,  1883. 

W.  H.  BENTLEY,  Peoria,  III. 

DEAR  SIR:  —  I  have  read  your  History 
of  the  Seventy-Seventh  Regiment  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  with  a  good  deal  of  pleasure, 
and  find  it  to  be  a  very  accurate  and  truthful 
history  of  the  services  rendered  to  the  Govern- 
ment by  that  organization. 

I  feel  that  the  Regiment  is  entitled  to  have  its 
history  written.  Its  achievements  during  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  were  of  so  high  a  charac- 
ter, and  it  earned  in  so  many  hard  fought  bat- 
tles such  distinction,  that  a  truthful  history  pub- 
lished at  this  time,  will  be  highly  appreciated  by 
all  the  members  and  their  friends.  The  book 
will  be  highly  prized  by  them,  not  only  now, 
but  by  their  decendants  in  the  future. 

As  the  Commander  of  the  Seventy-Seventh 
during  the  entire  term  of  its  service,  I  take  great 
pride  in  its  brilliant  record.  Our  experience 


10  INTRODUCTION. 


during  the  whole  war  was  a  severe  one.  We 
were  constantly  at* the  front.  Our  long  and  te- 
dious marches  were  trying.  Our  battles  were 
among  the  hardest  fought  during  the  war.  But 
our  brave  men  went  through  all  without  mur- 
muring, and  in  the  most  trying  positions  in 
which  they  were  placed,  they  never  failed  to 
acquit  themselves  honorably.  In  the  estimation 
of  their  commanding  generals,  they  stood  second 
to  hone. 

More  than  twenty  years  have  passed  since  we 
became  soldiers;  and  in  looking  back  over  what 
we  passed  through  in  those  days,  we  naturally 
feel  that  it  was  a  hard  life,  and  perhaps  we 
should  not  feel  disposed,  or  should  hesitate  to 
give  another  three  years  of  our  lives  in  the  same 
way.  But  I  venture  to  say  right  here,  that  I  do 
not  believe  there  is  a  man  living  who  served  with 
us  during  those  trying  times,  but  is  proud  that 
he  was  there,  and  that  he  will,  during  his  whole 
life,  remember  with  a  thrill  of  pleasure,  that  he 
was  once  a  soldier  of  the  Seventy-Seventh  Illi- 
nois Regiment. 

I  believe  that  one  great  cause  of  the  success 
of  the  Regiment  is  due  to  the  kind  and  charac- 
ter of  the  men  who  composed  it.  The  great 
majority  of  them  were  young  men  who  had  been 
carefully  trained  at  their  own  homes  by  good 
fathers  and  mothers,  who  had  implanted  in  them 
true  and  manly  principles.  They  were  young 


INTRODUCTION.  11 


men  of  intelligence,  honest  and  upright.  They 
were  men  who  scorned  to  commit  a  mean  act. 
On  all  occasions  they  could  be  depended  upon  to 
go  where  you  directed  them,  and  to  stay  there  as 
long  as  there  was  any  ground  under  thei?  feet 
to  stand  on.  Such  men  as  these  were  invincible, 
and  could  only  be  successful,  and  I  believe  that 
no  force  could  resist  an  army  like  them,  and 
that  they  could  march  triumphantly  around  the 
world. 

We  were  also  favored  with  good  officers. 
They  all  came  from  civil  life  —  knew  nothing 
whatever  of  the  life  and  duties  of  a  soldier  — 
had  never  seen  a  battle  in  their  lives,  and  in 
fact  had  everything  to  learn.  They  learned  it 
in  a  very  short  time,  and  learned  it  well.  They 
behaved  as  well  in  battle  as  the  veteran  officers 
of  the  regular  army  who  had  been  in  the  service 
all  their  lives.  When,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
they  were  mustered  out  of  service,  most  of  them 
were  competent  to  take  any  command. 

in  conclusion,  I  wish  here  to  congratulate  you, 
my  old  comrades  in  arms,  on  your  past  achieve- 
ments. You  served  your  country  at  a  time 
when  you  were  badly  needed,  and  you  served  it 
well. 

Twenty  years  have  passed  away  since  those 
stirring  events  occurred,  and  the  probabilities 
are  that  you  will  never  be  called  upon  to  take 
part  in  another  war.  But  you  have  the  satis- 


12  INTRODUCTION. 


faction  of  leaving  as  a  legacy  to  your  descend- 
ants, the  record  of  the  brave  deeds  done  by  you, 
in  the  Great  Rebellion  of  1861-65.  In  the  future 
this  will  be  more  highly  prized  by  them  than 
any  other  legacy  you  could  leave  them. 

Yours  truly, 

D.  P.  GRIER.. 


CHAPTER  THE  FIRST. 

"  THE    LONG    ROLL." 

)HE  summer  of  1862  was  one  of  doubt  and 
darkness  to  the  people  of  the  northern 
states.  For  long  weary  months  we  had 
been  waging  an  unsuccessful  war  against  the  foes 
of  constitutional  liberty  and  popular  rights. 
Thousands  of  our  bravest  and  best  had  gone  to 
the  front  to  stem,  if  possible,  the  rushing  tide  of 
battle.  Many  had  perished  on  the  field,  and  more 
had  fallen  before  a  worse  enemy  —  disease.  De- 
feat and  victory  were  about  equally  balanced  on 
the  line  dividing  loyalty  and  treason.  There 
was  no  silver  lining  to  the  dark  cloud  of  war. 
Hope  and  fear  alternately  took  possession  of 
loyal  hearts.  The  strongholds  of  the  rebellion 
seemed  to  be  impregnable  to  our  attacks.  In 
the  east,  Richmond,  with  bristling  bayonets  and 
frowning  batteries,  had  hurled  back  the  solid 
columns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  fear- 
ful loss  of  life.  In  the  west,  Vicksburg  and  Port 
Hudson  closed  the  Mississippi  against  the  com- 
merce of  the  great  states  depending  on  it  and 
its  tributaries  for  an  outlet  to  the  sea.  The  com- 


14  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

bined  efforts  of  the  army  and  navy  could  not  si- 
lence the  batteries  or  lower  the  flag  of  secession 
at  Mobile,  Charleston  or  Savannah.  Doubt  and 
uncertainty,  almost  amounting  to  despair,  took 
possession  of  the  people.  Prayers  to  the  God 
of  battles  had  ascended  from  thousands  of  pul- 
pits and  firesides,  for  the  success  of  our  arms, 
but  no  substantial  success  came  in  answer  to 
those  prayers.  "The  brave  began  to  fear  the 
power  of  man,  and  the  pious  to  doubt  the  favor 
of  God." 

Under  these  disheartening  circumstances,  on 
the  28th  of  June,  the  governors  of  the  northern 
states  addressed  a  memorial  to  the  President, 
urging  upon  him  the  necessity  of  a  more  vigor- 
our  prosecution  of  the  war.  They  suggested 
the  propriety  of  calling  upon  the  different  states 
for  additional  troops  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  al- 
ready existing  in  the  field,  and  to  organize  such 
new  forces  as  might  be  deemed  necessary  for  the 
prompt  suppression  of  the  rebellion.  They  told 
him  that  the  people  were  with  the  government 
—  that  they  were  willing  to  sacrifice  life,  prop- 
erty, everything,  for  the  restoration  of  the  Un- 
ion and  the  perpetuity  of  our  free  institutions  — 
that  they  would  respond  to  any  demand  made 
upon  them,  and  that  every  available  means 
should  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  one  great 
object-in  view  —  the  termination  of  the  war. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  15 

To  this  urgent  appeal  the  President  replied  as 
follows : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,       \ 
Washington,  D.  C.,  July  1.  j. 

GENTLEMEN  : — Fully  concurring  in  the  wisdom 
of  the  views  expressed  to  me  in  so  patriotic  a 
manner  by  you  in  the  communication  of  the  28th 
day  of  June,  I  have  decided  to  call  into  the  ser- 
vice an  additional  force  of  300,000  men.  I  sug- 
gest and  recommend  that  the  troops  should  be 
chiefly  of  infantry. 

The  quota  of  your  state  would  be .     I 

trust  they  may  be  enrolled  without  delay,  so  as 
to  bring  this  unnecessary  and  injurious  civil  war 
to  a  speedy  and  satisfactory  conclusion.  A#  or- 
der fixing  the  quotas  of  the  respective  states  will 
be  issued  by  the  War  Department. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  key-note  was  struck.  Henceforth  there 
was  to  be  no  temporizing.  All  the  energies  and 
resources  of  the  government  and  the  people 
were  to  be  concentrated  on  a  single  object  —  the 
successful  termination  of  the  war.  The  response 
to  this  proclamation  was  emphatic  and  prompt. 
From  every  pursuit  and  condition  in  life  the  peo- 
ple rushed  with  one  accord  to  the  defense  of  the 
glorious  old  flag  of  their  fathers.  Never  before 
in  the  history  of  the  world  had  such  a  grand 
uprising  of  the  masses  been  witnessed. 


16  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


The  State  of  Illinois,  true  to  her  trust,  was  not 
behind  the  others  in  contributing  men  and 
means  for  the  national  defense.  Recruiting 
weat  forward  vigorously  in  every  city  and  town 
and  hamlet  in  the  state.  The  war  was  the  all- 
absorbing  topic  of  the  times.  Enthusiastic  war 
meetings  were  held,  and  the  people  were  alive  to 
the  importance  of  the  issues  presented.  And 
when  the  work  of  enlistment  was  complete, 
when  the  regiments  were  all  full,  that  grand 
army  of  stalwart  men  took  up  the  line  of  march 
southward  —  a  living  wall  extending  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi  —  and  as  they 
marched  they  sang, 

"  We  are  coining  father  Abraham, 
Three  hundred  thousand  more." 

Among  the  regiments  organized  under  the 
President's  call  of  July  1,  was  the  Seventy-Sev- 
enth Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Peoria. 
While  the  organization  of  the  Regiment  was  in 
progress,  rival  claims  appeared  for  the  colonelcy, 
which  for  a  time  seemed  difficult  of  adjustment. 
Charles  Ballance,  Esq.,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
.Peoria,  had  been  authorized  by  the  governor  to 
raise  a  regiment  of  infantry.  He  had  devoted 
his  time  and  energies  to  this  object,  and  he  very 
naturally  felt  that  he  was  the  proper  person  to 
command  the  regiment  after  it  was  fully  organ- 
ized. On  the  other  hand,  there  was  a  strong 
feeling  in  the  Regiment,  both  among  the  officers 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  17 

and  men,  in  favor  of  David  P.  Grier,  who  was 
also  well  known  in  Peoria  and  surrounding 
country,  and  who  was  at  that  time  the  captain 
of  Co.  "G,"  8th  Missouri  Volunteers. 

Mr.  Ballance's  friends  urged  his  claims  on 
the  ground  that  as  he  had  been  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  Regiment,  he  had  the 
best  right  to  command  it.  Captain  Grier's 
friends  urged  his  military  experience  as  a  reason 
why  the  command  should  be  given  to  him.  And 
again,  inasmuch  as  Mr.  Ballance  was  an  old 
man,  and  an  influential  citizen,  it  was  thought 
that  he  could  do  more  good  for  the  country  by 
remaining  at  home  than  by  going  into  the  field. 
But  Captain  Grier  was  a  young  man,  and  able 
to  endure  the  hardships  and  privations  of  a  soK 
dier's  life,  as  he  had  already  shown  on  the  fields 
of  Donelson  and  Shiloh. 

While  arguments  and  negotiations  upon  the 
subject  in  dispute  were  pending  between  the 
parties  interested,  Gov.  Yates  commissioned  Mr. 
Ballance  as  colonel  of  the  Regiment  on  the  18th 
of  August.  By  an  arrangement  subsequently 
entered  into,  the  command  was  transferred  to 
Captain  Grier,  and  he  was  commissioned  acord- 
ingly,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  dispatch  : 

SPRINGFIELD,  Sept.  4,  1862. 
To  Col.D.  P.  GRIER: 

You  will  take  command  of  the  Seventy- 
Seventh    Regiment    as    Colonel,    Lysander    R. 


18  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Webb  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  M.  V.  Hotch- 

kiss  as  Major. 

By  order  of  D.  L.  GOLD,  A.  A.  G. 

Gov.  YATES. 

On  tbe  third  of  September  the  Regiment  was 
formed  on  the  parade  ground,  and  Colonel  Bal- 
lance,  in  a  neat  and  appropriate  speech,  took  for- 
mal leave  of  his  command,  at  the  same  time 
giving  a  detailed  account  of  the  difficulties 
which  had  been  encountered  and  overcome  in 
the  formation  of  the  Regiment.  He  then  intro- 
duced Captain  Grier  as  our  future  Colonel,  who 
appeared  upon  the  stand  and  remarked  that 
speech-making  was  out  of  his  line  of  business, 
and  intimated  that  we  might  expect  actions 
rather  than  words  from  him.  How  far  this  in- 
timation was  realized,  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing pages.  Col.  Grier  was  followed  by 
Lieut.  Col.  Webb,  who  made  a  brief  but  elo- 
quent speech.  He  expressed  his  satisfaction 
that  we  had,  at  length,  secured  the  organization 
of  a  regiment,  which  he  trusted  would  never 
return  dishonored  from  the  field  of  battle.  He 
was  glad  that,  as  Col.  Ballance  had  resigned  his 
commission,  we  would  be  led  by  an  experienced 
officer — one  who  had  already  seen  active  ser- 
vice, and  who  was  fully  competent  to  command 
us  on  the  marchr  in  the  camp,  or  on  the  battle 
field.  The  proceedings  were  harmonious 
throughout,  and  at  the  close  three  cheers  were 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  19 

given  for  Col.  Ballance,  three  for  Col.  Grier,  and 
three  for  an  undivided  Union. 

On  the  fourth  of  this  month  an  election  was 
held  for  chaplain.  Several  candidates  were 
brought  forward  and  warmly  supported  by  their 
respective  friends.  The  choice  fell  on  the  Rev. 
William  G.  Pierce,  of  Elmwood. 

Having  been  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  on  the  second  day  of  September, 
we  now  considered  ourselves  full-fledged  soldiers 
in  every  sense  of  the  word.  But  we  had  much 
to  learn,  and  more  to  endure.  We  were  well 
uniformed  in  the  regulation  suit  of  blue,  but  the 
arms  first  put  into  our  hands  were  nothing  but 
the  flint-lock  muskets  of  ancient  times  —  some 
with  locks  and  some  without.  With  these  we 
paced  our  "beat"  with  as  much  security  as 
though  we  had  been  armed  with  the  best  rifles 
in  the  government  arsenals.  But  we  could  not 
rely  upon  such  weapons  in  conflict  with  an  ene- 
my, and  acordingly  we  were  soon  armed  with 
Entield  rifles.  When  we  appeared  on  battallion 
drill  or  dress  parade  we  fancied  that  we  made  an 
imposing  display  —  that  we  were  soldiers,  terri- 
ble as  an  army  with  banners.  But  we  were  sadly 
mistaken,  as  subsequent  experience  proved. 

Yet  we  were  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States  —  OUR  COUNTRY  —  and  we  resolved  to  do 
the  best  we  could.  We  looked  forward  with  a 
good  deal  of  interest  to  the  day  when  we  should 


20  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

be  permitted  to  strike  a  blow  in  defense  of  the 
government  of  our  fathers.  It  is  true  we  had 
never  witnessed  "  the  pride  and  pomp  and  cir- 
cumstance of  glorious  war."  We  had  never 
seen  the  death-dealing  engines  of  destruction 
decimating  the  ranks  of  an  army.  Many  of 
those  who  were  now  in  the  full  vigor  of  life,  and 
joyously  looking  forward  to  active  service,  would 
ere  long,  sleep  their  last  long  sleep  beneath  the 
shades  of  a  southern  clime.  The  rattle  of 
musketry,  the  boom  of  artillery,  and  the  din 
of  battle,  would  be  their  funeral  dirge,  while 
their  comrades  in  arms  would  drop  the  tear  of 
sorrow  and  regret  over  their  remains,  and  then 
pass  on.  The  friends  they  left  behind  would 
never  welcome  their  return  to  the  joys  of  home. 
We  thought  of  these  things,  yet  felt  none  the 
less  inclined  to  go.  We  had  something  dearer 
than  life  at  stake,  the  perpetuation  of  our  civil 
and  religious  liberties,  and  if  the  shedding  of  our 
blood  would  contribute  to  this  end,  we  felt  wil- 
ling to  make  the  sacrifice.  At  all  events  it  was 
our  duty  to  go,  and  we  went. 

Camp  life  was  something  new.  Our  first  intro- 
duction to  army  rations  was  rather  embarrass- 
ing. We  had  not  been  educated  for  cooks,  and 
now  we  were  brought  face  to  face  with  the  fact, 
that  we  must  either  cook  or  starve.  Our  female 
friends  at  home  would  have  smiled  if  they  could 
have  seen  the  perplexity  -of  countenance  which 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  21 

characterized  us  as  we  attempted  to  cook. 
Often  had  we  to  enjoy  an  indifferent  dinner  or  no 
dinner  at  all,  because  we  knew  not  how  to  pre- 
pare it.  But  time  heals  many  wounds  and  cures 
many  defects.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  there- 
fore, that  we  remained  in  ignorance  on  a  subject 
involving  such  vital  interests.  On  the  contrary 
we  soon  learned,  not  only  to  endure  privation 
and  hardships,  but  also  to  prepare  an  acceptable 
meal — a  meal  which  a  king,  in  our  circumstan- 
ces, might  envy. 

There  was  an  establishment  in  camp  purport- 
ing to  be  a  sutler's  shop,  but  which  was,  in  re- 
ality, a  whisky  shop.  This  was  an  eye-sore  to  the 
members  of  the  regiment,  and  they  resolved  that 
the  nuisance  should  be  abated.  Many  of  them 
were  religious,  and  many  of  those  who  made  no 
pretentious  to  a  religious  character,  were  tem- 
perate in  their  habits,  and  they  were  not  willing 
that  the  Seventy-Seventh  should  become  ad- 
dicted to  the  vice  of  intemperance  at  the  outset. 
They  notified  the  "  sutler  "  that  he  must  remove 
his  stock  in  trade  within  a  specified  time,  or  suf- 
fer the  consequences.  With  this  order  he  prom- 
ised compliance,  but  failed  to  make  his  promise 
good.  As  mild  measures  had  failed,  other  means 
were  resorted  to.  On  the  night  of  September 
1st,  the  forces  were  formed  in  line  of  battle,  com- 
pletely investing  the  enemy's  works.  After 
brief  skirmishing  an  assault  was  ordered.  The 


22  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

assailants  moved  forward  in  handsome  style  with 
unbroken  lines,  and  after  a  faint  resistance,  the 
works  were  carried  by  storm.  This  was  our  first 
engagement  and  our  first  victory.  It  was  com- 
plete, bloodless  and  decisive.  It  was  a  harbinger 
of  good  things  to  come,  of  greater  victories  to 
follow. 

The  lady  friends  of  the  different  companies 
made  frequent  visits  to  our  camp  at  Peoria, 
bringing  with  them  dainties  which  contrasted 
strangely  with  the  rough  fare  to  which  we  were 
becoming  accustomed.  Pies  and  cakes  of  all 
kinds,  and  in  almost  endless  profusion  —  fowls, 
the  barn-yard  treasures  of  home,  boiled,  baked 
and  fricasseed,  also  contributed  to  satisfy  our  ap- 
petites, together  with  other  dishes  of  taste  and 
delicacy  too  numerous  to  mention.  These  were 
happy  days,  and  transient  in  their  happiness. 
But  memory  lingered  long  and  pleasantly  around 
those  happy  scenes,  and  we  thought  of  the  act- 
ors in  them  with  feelings  akin  to  veneration. 
When  separated  far  from  them  by  time  and  dis- 
tance, the  beautiful  language  of  the  poet  came 
to  our  minds  : 

"  Oh,  still  be  my  heart  with  such  memories  filled, 
Like  the  vase  in  which  roses  have  once  been  distilled; 
You  may  break,  you  may  ruin  the  vase  if  you  will, 
But  the  scent,  of  the  roses  will  hang  round  it  still." 

As  milk  is  an  article  not  put  down  on  the 
government  bill  of  fare,  the  "boys"  were 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  23 

obliged  to  run  a  dairy  on  their  own  account,  .or 
do  without  the  milk.  Of  the  two  evils  they 
chose  the  least.  This  is  the  way  it  was  done. 
Forty  or  fifty  cows,  belonging  to  people  in  the 
city,  were  in  the  habit  of  grazing  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  camp,  and  beyond.  As  they  returned  to 
their  homes  in  the  evening  the  boys  would  head 
them  oft'  and  drive  them  into  a  corral.  Here 
they  were  at  the  mercy  of  their  captors.  While 
two  of  the  boys  held  a  cow,  four  others  seated 
on  their  heels,  would  "draw"  the  daily  rations 
for  six.  On  one  occasion  as  they  were  thus  en- 
gaged, a  funeral  procession  passed,  wending  its 
slow  and  solemn  way  to  the  city  of  the  dead. 
The  occupants  of  the  first  two  carriages  passed 
by  without  noticing  the  proceedings.  In  the  next 
carnage  a  pleasant  smile  of  recognition  was  no- 
ticed, while  the  ludicrous  scene  was  too  much 
for  the  afflicted  friends  who  brought  up  the  rear. 
With  one  accord  they  burst  into  a  hearty  peal  of 
laughter,  and  acknowledged  mentally,  that  what 
soldiers  don't  know  about  drawing  rations,  isn't 
worth  knowing. 

On  the  20th  of  September  the  regiment 
marched  to  the  city  for  the  purpose  of  receiving 
a  beautiful  national  fiag  —  a  present  from  the 
ladies  of  Peoria.  The  presentation  speech  was 
made  by  Washington  Cockle,  Esq.,  and  responded 
to  by  Col.  Grier,  on  behalf  of  the  regiment, 


24  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


after  which  we  listened  to  an  eloquent  and  thrill- 
ing war  speech  by  E.  C.  Ingersoll,  Esq. 

Soon  after  this  the  ladies  presented  us  with 
ten  libraries  of  religious  books  —  one  for  each 
company.  By  this  act  of  kindness  they  mani- 
fested a  desire  that  our  intellectual  and  religious 
wants  should  be  supplied.  They  knew  the  temp- 
tations incident  to  a  life  in  the  army,  arid  in 
throwing  these  safeguards  around  us,  they  acted 
a  noble  part.  In  addition  to  this,  religious  exer- 
cises were  held  in  camp  almost  every  evening, 
conducted  by  Mr.  William  Reynolds  and  other 
Christian  workers  from  the  city.  While  these 
exercises  varied  the  monotony  of  camp  life,  they 
were  duly  appreciated  and  long  remembered 
with  gratitude  by  those  for  whom  they  were 
intended. 

Our  time  while  in  camp  at  Peoria,  was  chiefly 
occupied  with  company  and  battallion  drill, 
thereby  fitting  us  for  active  service  in  the  Held. 
It  should  be  stated  in  this  connection  that  we 
were  not  alone  in  our  encampment.  The  85th, 
86th,  102d,  103d,  108th  and  112th  Illinois  Volun- 
teers were  with  us.  On  the  27th  of  September, 
in  company  with  these  regiments,  we  appeared 
on  review  before  Col.  John  Bryner,  command- 
ing the  post.  There  were  about  4,500  men,  and 
as  this  was  our  first  appearance  on  review,  and 
the  largest  and  most  imposing  military  display 
ever  witnessed  at  this  place,  a  very  large  assem- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  25 

blage  of  men,  women  and  children  were  present 
to  view  the  proceedings.  Their  presence  inspired 
us  with  confidence  as  our  dense  columns  marched 
past  the  officer  reviewing  the  troops.  We  were 
not,  as  yet,  thoroughly  drilled,  and  it  is  hoped 
that  those  who  witnessed  our  maneuvers  on  that 
occasion,  were  charitable  enough  to  pardon  the 
blunders  of  raw  recruits. 

We  were  now  enacting  the  closing  scenes  of 
our  encampment  at  Peoria,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  order  which  was  issued  about  this 
time : 

HEADQUARTERS,  | 

77TH  REGIMENT  ILL.  INFANTRY.  / 

Regimental  Orders,  No.  5. 

Marching  orders  arrived  for  the  regiment 
last  evening.  Therefore  every  absent  man  must 
report  at  headquarters  immediately.  If  there 
are  any  confined  to  their  beds  by  sickness,  they 
must  furnish  a  certificate  from  the  physician  in 
attendance,  and  join  the  regiment  as  soon  as 
they  are  able  to  travel. 

D.  P.  GRIER, 

Col.  Commanding  11th  III.  Infantry. 

This  looked  like  business.  Something  more 
than  playing  soldier  was  in  store  for  us.  At  last 
the  long-looked-for-day  arrived.  The  4th  of 
October  came,  and  with  it  orders  to  pack  knap- 
sacks, prepare  two  days'  rations  and  take  up  the 
line  of  march.  With  these  orders  we  yielded  a 
2 


26  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

cheerful  compliance,  as  we  were  becoming  weary 
of  the  monotonous  routine  of  our  duties  in  camp. 

The  place  of  our  destination  was  Cincinnati. 
It  may  be  that  we  were  too  anxious  to  go,  but 
perhaps  it  was  natural.  There  is  something  in 
the  excitement  of  a  soldier's  life  that  prompts 
him  to  seek  new  scenes  and  new  adventures,  and 
he  never  enjoys  himself  better  than  when  mak- 
ing these  changes.  At  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  regi- 
ment was  formed,  and  soon  after  we  were 
marching  to  the  depot.  The  citizens  gave  us 
kindly  greetings  as  we  passed  through  the  streets 
of  the  city,  aud  when  we  reached  the  depot  we 
found  a  large  assemblage  of  people  who  had 
come  from  the  city  and  country  to  witness  our 
departure.  This  was  a  trying  time  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Seventy-Seventh.  Fathers  and 
mothers,  brothers  and  sisters  were  there,  to  bid, 
perhaps,  a  last  farewell  to  their  departing  friends. 
But  no  doubt  they  cheerfully  made  the  sacrifice 
in  view  of  the  necessities  of  their  country. 

At  5  o'clock  the  signal  was  given  —  the  thrill- 
ing—  oh,  how  thrilling  —  pressure  of  the  hand 
was  exchanged — the  farewell  wrords  were  spoken 
—  the  farewell  kiss  enjoyed  —  the  engine  whis- 
tled—  the  wheels  began  to  revolve,  and  that  long 
line  of  cars,  filled  with  soldiers,  bound  for 
"Dixie,"  moved  off,  leaving  home  and  friends, 
with  all  their  endearing  joys,  behind. 


CHAPTER  THE  SECOND. 

"REVIELLE." 

>HE  Roll  of  the  Seventy-Seventh  Regi- 
ment Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  mus- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
on  the  second  of  September,  1862,  is  herewith 
presented.  While  it  is  not  claimed  that  this 
roll  is  absolutely  correct,  it  is  believed  to  be 
nearly  so.  In  the  hurry  and  confusion  and  ex- 
citement incident  to  the  muster  out  of  the  Regi- 
ment, it  would  be  very  strange  if  no  mistakes 
had  occurred.  But  these  mistakes  are  of  minor 
importance.  The  main  facts  and  incidents  re- 
corded as  pertaining  to  each  individual  member 
are  substantially  correct.  And  as  such,  they  are 
respectfully  submitted,  with  the  hope  that  our 
surviving  comrades,  in  looking  over  these  famil- 
iar names,  may  call  to  mind  the  forms  and  fea- 
tures of  those  brave  men  who  gave  their  lives 
for  their  country  —  that  they  may  recall  many 
of  the  scenes  and  incidents,  both  serious  and 
comic,  which  occurred-  on  the  march,  in  the 
camp,  and  on  the  fatal  field  —  and  that  the  ties 
of  friendship  and  sincere  affection,  cemented  by 


28  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

those  long,  weary  months  of  common  sufferings 
and  common  dangers,  may  grow  stronger  and 
stronger  with  the  advancing  years,  until  the  Su- 
preme Grand  Commander  of  armies  and  nations 
shall  sound  the  last  "  Tattoo"  for  the  last  surviv- 
ing member  of  the  Regiment. 


FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

COLONELS. 

Charles  Ballance,  Peona. 

Commissioned  August  18,  1862,  but  not  mustered. 

David  P.  Grier,  Peoria. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  General  Grier  was  engaged 
in  business  at  Elmwood,  Illinois.  As  soon  as  he  heard  of 
the  fall  of  Fort  Sumpter  he  expressed  his  determination  to 
enter  the  service.  He  at  once  began  recruiting  a  company, 
and  the  ranks  were  soon  full,  when  he  was  elected  captain. 
He  tendered  the  services  of  himself  and  company  to  Gov. 
Yates,  of  Illinois,  but  as  the  state  quota  was  already  full, 
he  was  not  accepted.  He  then  took  his  company  to  St. 
Louis,  where  they  were  mustered  into  the  service  in  June, 
1861,  as  Co.  "  G,"  8th  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry.  As  Cap- 
tain of  that  company  he  was  actively  engaged  for  several 
months,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry,  Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh,  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Corinth, 
Miss.,  besides  many  skirmishes  of  minor  importance. 

On  the  25th  day  of  August,  1862,  Captain  Grier  was  or- 
dered to  report  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  for  orders.  On  ar- 
riving there  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Yates  as  colonel 
of  the  77th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  Sept.  2d,  and  was 
mustered  on  the  12th  of  the  same  month.  He  was  in  com- 
mand of  his  regiment  continuously  from  that  time  until 
the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  July  4,  1863.  During  the  siege 
of  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  until  the  return  to  Vicksburg,  he  was 
in  command  of  the  Brigade  to  which  the  77th  belonged. 
At  Franklin  and  New  Iberia,  La.,  Nov.  1863,  he  commanded 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  29 

the  2d  Brigade,  4th  Division,  13th  Army  Corps.  In  August, 
1864,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  all  the  land  forces  on' 
Dauphine  Island,  Ala.,  under  the  orders  of  Major  General 
Granger,  who  was  in  command  of  the  expedition.  After 
the  capture  of  Fort  Gaines,  all  the  troops  on  the  island, 
excepting  the  77th  and  one  other  regiment,  crossed  over  to 
the  peninsula  and  laid  siege  to  Fort  Morgan.  Colonel  Grier 
was  ordered  over  with  them,  and  retained  command  of  all 
the  land  forces  there  during  the  siege,  and  until  the  capture 
of  the  Fort. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1865,  Colonel  Grier  was  commis- 
sioned BREVET  BRIGADIER  GENERAL,  a  promotion  well 
earned  by  four  years  of  faithful  service,  and  too  long  with- 
held. When  General  Canhy  organized  the  expedition 
against  Mobile,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  General  Grier  was 
assigned  to  duty  on  his  Brevet  rank,  and  ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  1st  Brigade,  3d  Division,  13th  Army  Corps. 
He  retained  command  of  the  Brigade  during  the  entire 
campaign  against  Mobile,  and  the  assaults  on  Spanish  Fort 
and  Blakely,  and  also  after  the  capture  of  Mobile,  on  the 
march  up  the  Tombigbee  River.  On  the  return  from  that 
march  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  3d  Division, 
13th  Army  Corps,  and  remained  in  command  of  the  Divi- 
sion until  he  and  his  regiment  were  mustered  out,  July  10, 
1865. 

During  all  this  time,  and  in  every  position  to  which  he 
was  assigned,  General  Grier  had  the  entire  confidence  of 
his  own  regiment,  and  of  all  the  other  troops  under  his  com- 
mand. As  he  led  the  77th  to  the  front  in  1862,  so  he  had 
the  satisfaction  of  bringing  home  what  remained  of  that 
regiment  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONELS. 

Lysander  R.  Webb,  Peoria. 

Mustered  Sept.  18,  1862;  killed  in  battle  at  Mansfield, 
La.,  April  8,  1864. 

The  following  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  gallant 
officer  is  furnished  by  Mrs.  Virginia  B.  Bash,  of  San  Anto- 
nia,  Texas,  formerly  the  wife  of  Col.  Webb: 

«  *  *  *  *  AH  mv  papers  anci  letters  connected  with 
the  war,  were  burned  in  the  Chicago  fire  of  1871,  and  so 
far  as  I  know,  Col.  Webb  has  no  living  relative. 

"  Left  an  orphan  early  in  life,  he  was  adopted  by  Colonel 


30  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Shepherd,  a  man  of  large  business  connections,  and,  as  was 
supposed,  of  immense  wealth.  With  the  expectation  of 
inheriting  this,  he  was  reared  in  affluence,  every  imaginary 
wish  gratified  before  it  was  expressed,  and  petted  extrava- 
gantly by  his  doting  foster-mother  and  her  maiden  sister. 

"  Notwithstanding  this,  he  exhibited  a  strong  literary 
bias,  and  was,  with  many  misgivings,  sent  to  Yale.  For 
three  years  he  continued  his  studies  most  creditably,  but 
near  the  close  of  that  time  was  suddenly  recalled  home  by 
the  accidental  death  of  his  guardian,  speedily  followed  by 
the  death  of  his  wife. 

"  An  examination  of  the  property  to  which  he  believed 
himself  heir,  showed  a  lamentable  state  of  affairs.  Every- 
thing was  confusion,  and  the  result  of  the  disentanglement 
swept  away,  not  only  his  original  patrimony,  but  every 
penny  belonging  to  Col.  Shepherd,  as  well.  But  Col.  Webb 
was  not  one  to  sit  down  and  cry  over  ill-fortune. 

"  Although  little  more  than  a  boy,  as  soon  as  he  compre- 
hended the  state  of  arTaiis,  he  started  to  Springfield,  Mass., 
and  made  application  for  employment  to  the  "  Republican" 
which  was  even  at  that  early  day,  the  leading  paper  of 
Western  New  England.  Something  in  the  eager,  boyish 
face,  attracted  ths  attention  of  Mr.  Bowles,  and  he  give  him 
a  desk  in  the  editorial  room,  as  it  chanced,  bv  the  side  of 
J.  G.  Holland,  the  afterwards  famous  "Timothy  Titcomb." 

"For  a  year  he  worked  night  and  day  to  learn  his  work, 
asking  no  greater  praise  than  the  smiles  of  his  associates. 

"  The  next  year,  N.  C.  Geer,  desiring  to  start  a  Republi- 
can paper  in  Waukegan,  Illinois,  wrote  to  Mr.  Bowles  for  a 
"  live  editor"  to  take  charge  of  it,  and  the  result  was  that 
Mr.  Webb  was  sent  to  fill  the  place.  From  the  first,  the 
success  of  the  new  enterprise  was  assured,  and  when,  a 
couple  of  years  later,  it  was  found  necessary  to  establish  a 
new  Republican  daily  paper  in  the  stronghold  of  Democ- 
racy, as  Peoria  was  then  considered,  Mr.  N.  C.  Geer  was 
induced  to  take  it  in  hand,  and  Mr.  Webb  accompanied 
him  as  editor.  The  magnetism  of  the  new  editor  was  felt 
at  once,  and  for  the  first  time,  Peorians  had  a  paper  of  which 
they  were  proud. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  year  Col.  Webb  was  married  to 
Virginia,  eldest  daughter  of  Charles  Ballance,  a  leading 
lawyer  of  Central  Illinois,  and  soon  after,  at  the  instigation 
of  his  father-in-law,  gave  up  his  connection  with  the  Tran- 
srrifit,  and  began  the  study  of  law.  Here  his  indomitable 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  31 


energy  and  industry  came  to  his  aid,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
he  had  accomplished  what  is  considered  a  two  year's  course, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  partner  was  Peter  Da- 
vidson, afterwards  Major  of  Artillery,  and  a  brilliant  future 
opened  before  him.  But  the  war  broke  out  and  the  first 
shot  at  the  old  flag  sent  the  hot  blood  coursing  through  his 
veins  with  indignation. 

"The  tears  of  his  young  wife  kept  him  out  of  the  first 
levies,  but  when  the  call  came  for  more  men  to  put  down  a 
rebellion  whose  strength  no  one  guessed  at,  he  could  stand 
it  no  longer,  and  scarcely  counting  the  cost  to  those  he 
loved,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  77th.  His  subsequent 
career  is  a  matter  of  history  and  I  need  not  touch  upon  it. 
Repeated  efforts  were  made  to  recover  his  remains  that  they 
might  be  interred  in  the  family  lot  at  Peoria,  but  all  proved 
ineffectual.  Like  many  another  brave  man,  he  sleeps  in  an 
unknown  grave  to  wait  the  final  summons. 

"  Col.  Webb  was  a  singularly  handsome  man,  with  brown 
hair  and  eye.-',  and  an  engaging  manner  that  few  could  re- 
sist. As  a  soldier,  he  was  brave  and  daring  to  a  fault.  It 
was  his  fortune  to  lead  his  regiment  on  many  trying  occa- 
sions, and  in  all  he  added  fresh  laurels  to  his  reputation. 
The  affection  between  the  various  officers  of  the  77th  was 
unusually  fraternal,  and  neither  officers  nor  men  would 
have  shrunk  from  any  danger  when  Col.  Webb  led  the  way. 

"  Col.  Webb  was  born  in  Berkshire  County,  Mass.,  sin- 
gularly alone  in  the  world.  His  brothers  died  in  childhood, 
his  guardian  was  childless,  and  I  never  knew  of  but  one 
cousin,  the  Hon.  J.  A.  Harris,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  he, 
too,  has  been  dead  for  ten  years." 

John  A.  Burdett,  Knoxville. 

Mustered  May  22,  1864;  resigned  January  3,  1865. 

MAJORS. 

Memoir  V.  Hotehkiss,  Peoria. 

Mustered  September  12,  1862;  resigned  February  2, 
1864. 

John  A.  Burdett,  Knoxville. 

Mustered  April  4,  1864;  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Joseph  M.  McCulloch,  Cazenovia. 

Commissioned  April  8,  1864,  but  not  mustered.  In 
command  of  Union  prisoners  at  Camp  Ford,  Texas, 
from  October,  1864,  to  May,  1865;  mustered  out  as 
Captain  of  Company  "  C,"  July  7,  1865. 


32  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


ADJUTANTS. 

John  Hough,  Peoria. 

Mustered  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  "  B,"  17th  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  August  26,  1861;  resigned  April 
16,  1862;  mustered  as  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant 
of  the  77th,  September  12,  1862;  promoted  by  the 
President  Assistant  Adjutant-General  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  May  15,  1863. 

Henry  P.  Ayres,  Galesburg. 

Enlisted  as  Private  August  5,  1862;  mustered  as  Cor- 
poral Co.  "A,"  September  2,  1862;  promoted  Ser- 
geant-Major January  14,  1863;  mustered  as  First- 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  May  15,  1863;  on  detached 
service  as  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General  2d 
Brigade,  4th  Division,  13th  Army  Corps.  November 
21,  1863;  also  in  1st  Brigade  of  same  Division,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1864.  He  was  also  detached  as  A.  A.  A.  G., 
on  the  staff  of  Col.  W.  J.  Landram,  commanding  4th 
Division,  13th  Army  Corps',  March  15, 1864,  and  in  that 
capacity  participated  in  the  battle  of  Mansfield,  La., 
April  8,  1864,  and  was  highly  complimented  for 
"gallantry  and  efficiency"  on  that  occasion.  Was 
again  detached  as  A.  A.  A.  G.,  3d  Brigade,  3d  Division, 
19th  Army  Corps,  July  13,  1864;  mustered  out  July 
10,  1865. 

QUARTERMASTER. 

David  McKinney,  Peoria. 

Mustered  September  12,  1862;  on  detached  service  as 
Acting  Assistant -Quartermaster,  2d  Brigade,  4th 
Division,  13th  Army  Corps;  promoted  Captain  and 
Assistant-Quartermaster  May  15,  1865;  on  duty  as 
Post-Quartermaster  at  mouth  of  White  River  and  at 
Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark.;  mustered  out  at  Duvall's  Bluff 
January  15,  1866. 

SURdEON. 

Charles  Winnie,  Somonauk. 

Mustered  Assistant  Surgeon  55th  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  November  25,  1861;  promoted  Surgeon  of 
the  77th,  and  mustered  December  20,  1862;  mustered 
out  July,  10,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  33 


ASSISTANT    SURGEONS. 

Jesse  M.  Cowan,  Magnolia. 

Mustered  September  30, 1862;  mustered  out  at  consoli- 
dation. 

John  Stoner,  Minonk. 

Mustered  September  30,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 
1865. 

CHAPLAINS. 

William  G.  Pierce,  Elmwood. 

Mustered  September  12,  1862;  resigned  January  7, 1864. 
John  S.  McCulloch. 

Mustered  April  5,  1864;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

NON  -  COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

SERGEANT    MAJORS. 

Jehu  Buckingham,  Cazenovia. 

August  13, 1862;  transferred  to  Co.  "  C,"  June  21, 1863. 
Henry  P.  Ayres,  Galesburg. 

August  5,  1862;  promoted  Adjutant  May  15,  1863. 
Walter  JB.  Hotchkiss,  Peoria. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  September 

22,  1864. 
Charles  H.  Arms,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

QUARTERMASTER    SERGEANTS. 

Joe  H.  Stevison,  Magnolia. 

August  5,  1862;  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  Co.  "B." 
George  W.  Cone,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  Co.  "I." 
William  Stiteler,  Knoxville. 

August  7,  1862;  transferred  to  Co.  "A,"  January  26, 

1865. 
Leonidas  H.  Bradley. 

Transferred  from  130th  ID.  Infantry;  retransferred  to 

130th  111.  Infantry  as  revived. 


34  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


COMMISSARY  SERGEANTS. 

Nathaniel  H.  Wakefield,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  December  21, 

1862. 
William  H.  Bennett,  Peoria. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

HOSPITAL    STEWARDS. 

Ambrose  B.  Niles,  Eugene. 

August  5, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  20,  1864. 
Joel  Allen,  Minonk. 

August  8,  1862;  commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon  July 

24,   1865,  but  not   mustered;   mustered  out  July   10, 

1865. 

PRINCIPAL    MUSICIANS. 

Daniel  B.  Allen,  Elmwood. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  15, 

1863. 
John  W.  Carroll,  Peoria. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Lemon  H.  Wiley,  Elmwood. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


ROLL   OF   COMPANY   "A." 

CAPTAINS. 

John  A.  Burclett,  Knoxville. 

Mustered  September  2,  1862;  promoted  Major. 
Gardner  G  Stearns,  Knoxville. 

Mustered  April,  4,  1864;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Gardner  G.  Stearns,  Knoxville. 

Mustered  September  2,  1862;  promoted  Captain. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  35 

Merritt  M.  Clark,  Galesburg. 

Date  of  rank  February  2,  1864;  mustered  out  July  10, 
1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Merritt  M.  Clark,  Galesburg. 

Mustered    September   2,    1862;   promoted    First  Lieu- 
tenant. 

Charles  H.  Arms,  Knoxville. 

Date  of  rank  February  2,  1864;  declined  commission. 

William  H.  Wilcox,  Galesburg. 

Commissioned  February  2,  1864;  not  /mistered;  mus- 
tered out  as  Sergeant  July  10,  1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

W.  H.  Ilolcomb,  Jr.,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  discharged  March  12,  1864,  for  promo- 
tion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Walter  B.  Hotchkiss,  Peoria. 

August  12,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant  Major. 

William  H.  Wilcox,  Galesburg. 

August  5,  1862;  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  but 
not  mustered;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

John  F.  Campbell,  Peoria. 

August  7,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 

Thomas  Harrison,  Galesburg. 

July  18,  1862;  discharged  May  7,  1864,  for  promotion 
in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

CORPORALS. 

Arthur  H.  Rugg,  Peoria. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  as  Sergeant,  December  18, 
1863. 

John  II.  Sanburn,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  discharged  March  12,  1864,  for  promo- 
tion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Lyman  West,  Galesburg. 

July  17,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

W.  D.  Putnam,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862,  discharged  December  17, 1863,  for  pro- 
motion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 


36  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Charles  H.  Arms,  Knoxville. 

August   1,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant,  then     Sergeant 

Major. 
John  A.  Griffith,  Galesburg. 

July  31,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  June  7, 1865. 
Henry  P.  Ayres,  Galesburg. 

August  5,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant-Major. 
Charles  G.  Field,  Galesburg. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

William  Stiteler,  Knoxville. 

August  7,  1862;  promoted  Q.  M.  Sergeant;  returned  to 
company;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Andrew  J.  Abraham,  Elmwood. 

August  15, 1862;  died  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Tyler,  Texas, 

December  14,  1864. 
John  Anderson,  Knoxville. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged   for  wounds  received  at 

Arkansas  Post. 
Frank  W.  Ash,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Robert  H.  Avery,  Galesburg. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  at  Springfield,  111.,  July 

22,  1865. 
Horatio  F.  Bacon,  Galesburg. 

August  5,  1862 ;  killed  at  New  Orleans  December  25, 

1863. 
Henry  A.  Barber,  Elba. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  June  17, 

1865. 
Samuel  Bolt,  Knoxville. 

August  15,  1862;  died  of  wounds  June  21,  1863. 
James  H.  Bull,  Galesburg. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  6,  1863. 
William  H.  H.  Burdett,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  7, 1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  37 

John  C.  Burlingame,  Galesburg. 

July  17,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
George  D.  Butler,  Galesburg. 

August  9, 1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  July  10,  '65. 
Wilberforce  Churchill,  Galesburg. 

August  1,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February 

7,  1863. 
William  8.  Coe,  Knoxville. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  as  Sergeant  for  disability, 

June  2,  1865. 
James  S.  Coe,  Knoxville. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal  June  17, 

1865. 
George  Connell,  Truro. 

August  12,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  E.  C.,  July  7,  1864. 
Isaac  Conner,  Knoxville. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Milton  Dippery,  Knoxville. 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  wounds  November  17, 

1863. 
James  Divert,  Knoxville. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  H.  Divilbiss,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Samuel  S.  Divilbiss,  Peoria. 

August  7,  1862;  killed  at  Mansfield,  La.,  April  8,  1864. 
Ulysses  Edwards,  Kickapoo. 

August  12,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  September  3,  1863. 
Benjamin  Fry,  Peoria. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  May  18,  1865. 
Horace  F.  Ferris,  Galesburg. 

August   15,   1862;    discharged  February  6,   1864,  for 

promotion  in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 
Alexander  R.  Fisher,  Knoxville. 

August  11,  1862;  died  in  Knox  County,  Illinois,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1863. 
Charles  P.  Foster,  Truro. 

August  12,   1862;    discharged   for  disability   April  7, 

1863. 
Francis  G.  Fuller,  Galesburg. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


38  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Edward  F.  Green,  Galesburg. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal,  June  17, 

1865. 
Ira  R.  Hall,  Galesburg. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Henry  D.  Hester,  Galesburg, 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  7,  1863. 
Cornelius  Hensey,  Galesburg. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  7, 1863. 
Peter  Holcomb,  Knoxville. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  New  Orleans,  Nov.  10,  1863. 
Conrad  J.  Haller,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Asahel  E.  Hnrd,  Galesburg. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  8,  1865. 
Charles  T.  Kurd,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  transferred  to  Signal  Corps,  October  1, 

1863. 

E.  Winthrop  Jenny,  Galesburg. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

Cyrus  A.  Kroeson,  Kickapoo. 

August  12,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  E.  C.,  July  7,  1864. 

Washington  Kroeson,  Radnor, 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

Henry  E.  Losey,  Galesburg. 

August  1,  1862;  discharged  January  23,  1864,  for  pro- 
motion as  Major  in  the  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

W.  W.  Luddington,  Knoxville. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Cairo,  111.,  March  10,  1863. 

Daniel  Lockbaum,  Knoxville. 

August  8, 1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

Lewis  Mather,  Knoxville. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  March  16, 
1863. 

S.  Mather,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  February  14, 
1863. 

Henry  H.  Miller,  Galesburg. 

August  1,  1862;  discharged  April   9,  1864,  for  promo- 
tion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  39 

James  M.  McGraw,  Galesburg. 

August  18,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  L).  Moore,  Knoxville. 

August  9,   1862;    discharged   for  disability   June  11, 

1863. 
J.  R.  Moss,  Peoria. 

August  13,   1862;    discharged  for  disability  May  15, 

1863. 
John  W.  Ostrander,  Knoxville. 

July  31,  1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  April  6, 

1863;    buried    in    National   Cemetery  at  Vicksburg, 

Section  F;  number  of  grave,  119. 
William  Ott,  Knoxville. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
Julius  Rambo,  Knoxville. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  P.  Randall,  Knoxville. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  Reynolds,  Knoxville. 

August  15,  1862;    discharged  for  disability   June   3, 

1863. 
Alfred  Russell,  Knoxville. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Luther  G.  Russell,  Elmwood. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal  June  17, 

1865. 
Charles  W.  Sanburn,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Fred.  Summers,  Peoria. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  August   7, 

1864. 
Lester  T.  Stone,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  transferred  to  Signal  Corps,  October 

1,  1863. 
William  Sturgeon,  Peoria. 

August  15,   1862;    discharged  for  disability  June  15, 

1863. 
Lewis  J.  Swan,  Knoxville. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


40  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

> 

James  H.  Tarleton,  Knoxville. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  Tompkins,  Knoxville. 

August  7,  1862;  died  of  wounds  January  16,  1863. 
Daniel  B.  Trench,  Peoria. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds  January  12,  1863. 
Henry  Varley,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal  July  10, 

1865. 
Charles  H.  Ward,  Galesburg. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  "March  22,  1864,  to  enlist 

as  Hospital  Steward,  U.  S.  A. 
Mason  M.  White,  Peoria. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  Wilber,  Knoxville. 

August  2,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
Henry  Wilson,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;    mustered  out  as  Sergeant  June  17, 

1865. 
John  P.  Wilson,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  for  wounds  Sept.  10, 1863. 
Samuel  R.  Wilson,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  May  12,  1864,  for  promo- 
tion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 
A.  D.  Witherell,  Knoxville. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865, 
George  Woodmansee,  Jr.,  Knoxville. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Joseph  D.  Woodruft',  Galesburg. 

Ausrsst  11,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  June  9, 

1863. 
John  L.  Woolsey,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  41 

BOLL   OF    COMPANY  "  B." 

CAPTAINS. 

Robert  Irwin,  Magnolia. 

September  2.  1862;  killed  at  Arkansas  Post,  January 

11,  1863. 
Joe  H.  Stevison,  Peoria. 

March  1,  1863;  mustered  out  June  13,  1865. 
Addison  E.  McCaleb,  Robertson. 

January   16,  1863;    not   mustered;    resigned   as  First 

Lieutenant,  March  2,  1863. 

FIRST-LIEUTENANTS. 

Henry  B.  Kays,  Putnam  County. 

September  2,  1862;  resigned  December  6,  1862. 
Charles  C.  Tracy,  Peoria. 

January  16,  1863;  mustered  out  at  consolidation. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Addison  E.  McCaleb,  Robertson. 
September  2,  1862;  promoted. 

Joe  H.  Stevison,  Peoria. 
January  16,  1863;  promoted. 

Samuel  W.  Cook,  Magnolia. 

May  29,  1863;  resigned  September  13,  1864. 

Orange  Parrott,  Magnolia. 

March  17,  1865;  transferred  as  consolidated;  commis- 
sioned Captain  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mustered;  mus- 
tered out  as  2d  Lieutenant  July  10,  1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

Isaac  Sprague,  Palatine. 

August  8,  1862;  discharged  Juue  15,  1863. 
Samuel  W.  Cook,  Magnolia. 

August  4.  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant. 
Henry  Foster,  Magnolia. 

August  6  1862;  discharged  December  20,  1862. 
3 


42  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

John  Walcott,  Magnolia. 

August   15,   1862;  mustered  out  as  Private  July  10, 

1865. 
James  Wier,  Magnolia. 

August  9, 1862;  mustered  out  as  Private  July  10,  1865. 

CORPORALS. 

Lyman  S.  Calkins,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

Hiram  Compton,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Magnolia,  Illinois,  September 
28,  1863. 

David  Simpson,  Magnolia. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

Marion  Kays,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  June  8,  1863. 

William  Dugan,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862; 'died  at  New  Orleans,  February  18, 
1865. 

Ervin  O.  Smith,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  December  8,  1863. 

John  W.  Massie,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  July  25,  1864. 

Thomas  G.  Harris,  Magnolia. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865;  commis- 
sioned 1st  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mus- 
tered. 

MUSICIANS. 

Silas  Norris,  Hennepin. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Rice  Dunbar,  Hennepin. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson  Alexander,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February 

3,  1863. 
John  Alexander,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865, 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  43 

John  Brown,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Frank  Bobbett,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  December  21,  1862. 
William  G.  Boman,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  W.  Blakeslee,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
George  Chambers,  Magnolia. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds  April  12,  1864. 
Stephen  Compton,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  March 

19,  1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg, 

Section  F;  number  of  grave,  121. 
Francis  M.  Cook,  Magnolia. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  April  16,  1863. 
Jonas  Ellenburgh,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  7, 1865. 
Marion  Ellenburgh,  Magnolia. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  May  13,  1865. 
Jacob  Ely,  Magnolia. 

August  22,    1862;  killed  at   Mansfield,  La.,  April  8, 

1864. 
Elias  Fisher,  Peoria. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  February  18,  1863. 
William  F.  Fulsom,  Hennepin. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  April  16,  1863. 
Samuel  Grable,  Magnolia. 

August  10,  1862;  killed  at  Arkansas  Post  January  11, 

1863. 
Aaron  Grimes,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  April  16,  1863. 
Hamilton  Gurnea,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  March 

28,  ^63. 
William  German,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  at  Memphis. 
Robert  Hines,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  May  15,  1864, 


44  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Charles  Henthorne,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  W.  Head,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  A.  Hoessel,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  at  Mound   City,   Illinois. 
Isaac  B.  Head,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  1,  1865. 
George  M.  Holmes,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  June  20,  1864. 
William  P.  Johnson,  Magnolia. 

August  6,  1862;  died  near  Vicksburg  July  25,  1863. 
George  W.  Kays, Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  December  20,  1862. 
William  King,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  January  16,  1864. 
Hiram  Kraft,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  July  11,  1864. 
James  King,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  E.  McComber,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Henry  S.  McFarland,  Peoria. 

-  Died  at  Young's  Point.  La.,  March  4,  1863. 
James  Malone,  Magnolia. 

_  August  13,  1862:  discharged  March  12,  1863. 
Philip  Nelling,  Magnolia. 

August  10,  1862;  killed  at  Mansfield,  La.,  April  8,  1864. 
Roger  Ong,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  Oldham,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  February  13,  1863. 
Orange  Parrott,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  promoted  First  Sergeant;  then  Second 

Lieutenant. 
Abram  L.  Poyer,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  died  near  Cairo,  111.,  February  19,  1863. 
Jonathan  Poyer,  Magnolia. 

-  Mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
David  Parkin,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  August  25,  1864. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  45 

John  Ruley,  Magnolia. 

August,  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  A.  Roberts,  Lacon. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
James  M.  Roberts,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Jesse  Ray,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  at  Memphis. 
Lewis  E.  Simpson,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  August  12,  1863. 
Augustus  Schermeman,  Magnolia. 

August  10,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Franklin  Smith,  Magnolia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 
Edward  Sergeant,  Magnolia. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  Dec.  19,  1862. 
Jesse  Studivan,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  June  21,  1863. 
Joe  H.  Stevison,  Peoria. 

August  5,  1862;  promoted  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 
Edward  Swargy,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  died  of  wounds  January  16,  1863. 
Charles  C.  Tracy,  Peoria. 

August  6,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant. 
Jacob  Van  Winkle,  Magnolia. 

i  August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Samuel  Vanhorn,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;    mustered  out  as  Corporal   July    10, 

1865;  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant  July  24,   1865,  but 

not  mustered. 
William  A.  West,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
George  W.  Welser,  Magnolia. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  May  25,  1865. 
George  N.  Woodring,  Magnolia. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  May  13,  1865. 
Allen  Woodring,  Magnolia. 

August  10,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Daniel  E.  Winters,  Magnolia. 

August  12,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  June  27,  1865. 
Eli  T.  Way,  Magnolia. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  April  8, 1863. 


46  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

ROLL   OF   COMPANY   "  C." 
CAPTAIN. 

Joseph  M.  McCulloch,  Cazenovia. 

September  1, 1862;  mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

William  A.  Woodruff,  Peoria. 

September  2, 1862;  resigned  March  17,  1863. 
Philip  Jenkins,  Cazenovia. 

March  17,  1863;  resigned  February  12,  1864. 
Anderson  Wright,  Cazenovia. 

May  24,  1864;  mustered  out  at  consolidation. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Philip  Jenkins,  Cazenovia. 

September  2,  1862;  promoted  First  Lieutenant. 
Charles  F.  McCulloch,  Cazenovia. 

March  17,  1863;  commissioned  First  Lieutenant  May 
11,  1865;  transferred  as  consolidated;  commissioned 
Captain  April  8,  1864,  but  not  mustered;  mustered  out 
as  Second  Lieutenant  June  17,  1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

Charles  F.  McCulloch,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  promoted  Second  Lietenant. 
George  A.  Hart,  Woodford  County. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Peoria,  111.,  October  2,  1862. 
Jehu  Buckingham,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant  Major;  reduced  at 

his  own  request;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

John  S.  Hornbaker,  Peoria. 

August  9.  1862;  discharged  for  wounds  August  28,  1863. 
Anderson  Wright,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;    promoted  First  Sergeant;  then  First 

Lieutenant. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  47 


CORPORALS. 

Joseph  A.  Hutchinson,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865,  as  Sergeant; 
commissioned  First  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not 
mustered. 

Alfred  G.  Thorn,  Linn. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

John  Sewell,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865;  commis- 
sioned Second  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mus- 
tered. 

Albert  Shepherd,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

John  C.  Heron,  Metamora. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  16, 1864. 

James  P.  Black,  Richland. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

Thomas  S.  Patton,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

James  H.  Drennan,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant;  died  of  wounds 
May  26,  1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicks- 
burg;  Section  G;  number  of  grave,  1011. 

MUSICIAN. 

Enoch  Buckingham,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

Moses  Carles,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Samuel  T.  Acres,  Linn. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
J.  "William  Avery,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal  July  10,  1865. 
William  H.  Bennett,  Peoria. 

August  12,  1862;  promoted  Commissary  Sergeant. 


48  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Alfred  M.  Blackman,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  C.  Burson,  Shelby. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  Blackburn,  111.,  February  12, 

1864. 
Robert  Bennett,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 
James  Crow,  Limestone. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Minor  Calvert,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
O.  A.  Cotton,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  September  30, 

1864. 

W.  F.  Carson,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  B.  Carson,  Metamora. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  April  12,  1863. 
James  Drake,  Panola. 

August  22,  1862;  died  of  wounds  June  6,  1863;  buried 

in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  G;  number 

of  grave,  1034. 
John  T.  Davis,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Andrew  Dorson,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  December  25,  1862. 
John  C.  Dunbar,  Logan. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  wounds  Jan.  16,  1864. 
Dennis  Duff,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Lewis  Duchesne,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Henry  C.  Duchesne,  Woodford  County. 

August  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Alexander  Debolt,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Charles  C.  Enslow,  Linn. 

August_13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  Fisher,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  49 

Isaiah  Fisher,  Woodford  County. 

August  15,  18(32;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
August  Farrer,  Metamora. 

August  13,  1862;  supposed  killed  at  Vicksburg. 
Philo  W.  Gallop,  Roanoake. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
William  C.  Gordon,  Henry. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April,  1863. 
Clinton  L.  Gennoway,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
Edward  Hall,  Logan. 

August  11,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  December  23,  1862. 
Samuel  M.  Hart,  Woodford  County. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
A.  Warren  Howard,  Selby. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
David  W.  Hilsabeck,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;    discharged  for  disability  March   20, 

1863. 
Frank  N.  Ireland,  Richland. 

August  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Jan.  20,  1863. 
Cephas  H.  John,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  April  28,  1864. 
Henry  R.  Kirby,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  July  12, 1863. 
John  Kennedy,  Washburn. 

August  13,1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war  June 

17,  1865. 
William  M.  Kerrick,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
James  A.  Lindsay,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Samuel  A.  Lessly,  Woodford  County. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged   for  disability  October  20, 

1863. 
George  M.  Lay,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  died  near  Arkansas  Post,  January  10, 

1863. 
John  M.  McCormick,  Woodford  County. 

August  9;  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


50  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Edwin  R.  Mann,  Woodford  County. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  R.  McCracken,  Logan. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865 
Thomas  H.  McCulloch,  Woodford  County. 

August  14  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  D.  McCoy,  Woodford  County. 

August  14,  1862;  detailed  in  Chicago  Mercantile  Bat- 
tery May  2,   1863;    taken    prisoner  at  Mansfield,  La., 

April  8,  1864,  exchanged  May  27,  1865;    mustered  out 

June  17,  1865. 
Joshua  W.  McCoy,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Philip  H.  McCartney,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  3,  1863. 
William  R.  Moore,  Low  Point. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  January  20,  1865. 
Daniel  H.  Norris,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Benjamin  Pitcher,  Peoria. 

August   19,    1862;    discharged   for    disability   April   3, 

1863. 
John  A.  Pinkerton,  Logan. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  M.  Pinkerton,  Logan. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Bonaparte  Palmer,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Reuben  Parnham,  Woodford  County. 

August  11,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  April  21,  1863. 
John  G.  Philips,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,    1862;  discharged    for  disability  March   25, 

1863. 
William  Richards,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,   April  9,  1863. 
Andrew  Ruling,  Metamora. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Martin  V.  Robbins,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Alma  Rogers,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Oct.,  30,  1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  51 

Joseph  T.  Sims,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 
Joseph  R.  Sims,  Woodford  County. 

_  August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  Sims,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
William  Stevenson,  Linn. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Alfred  B.  Bcrogin,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;   discharged  for  disability   November 

17,  1863. 
Anton  Scher,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  June  20, 1865. 
William  Stephenson,  Cazenovia. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10:  1865. 
Isaac  M.  Thorn,  Cazenovia. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  27, 1863. 
Silas  P.  Thompson,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,   1862;    discharged    for    disability  March  9, 

1863. 
James  W.  Vanarsdale,  Linn. 

August  11,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  Feb.  23,  1863. 
Merrick  J.  Wald,  Woodford  County. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Edward  Wallace,  Logan. 

August  11,  1862;  died  January  26,  1863. 
John  P.  Wiley,  Limestone. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865,  as  1st  Ser- 
geant;  commissioned  Captain  July  24,  1865,   but  not 

mustered. 
Nathaniel  R.  Waketield,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  Reduced  from  Commissary  Sergeant; 

deserted. 
William  W.  White,  Woodford  County. 

August  13,  1862;   died  at  Jefferson   Barracks  June  22, 

1864. 
George  M.  Woodburn,  Logan. 

August  21,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  M.  Wright,  Peoria. 

August  9.  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


52  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

James  H.  Wedley,  Woodford  County. 

—  Mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  Wiley,  Peoria. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  Yeldon,  Cazenovia. 

August  18,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  Feb.  26,  1863. 


BOLL  OF  COMPANY  "D." 

CAPTAIN. 

Robert  H.  Brock,  Lacon. 

September  2,  1862;  transferred  as  consolidated;  mus- 
tered out  July  10,  1865;  commissioned  Lieut.  Colonel 
July  24,  1865,  but  not  mustered. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

William  J.  Goodrich,  Lacon. 

September  2,  1862;  resigned  June  9,  1864. 

John  M.  Shields,  Lacon. 

November  27,  1864;  transferred  as  consolidated;  mus- 
tered out  July  10,  1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

John  M.  Shields,  Lacon. 

September  2,  1862;  promoted  First  Lieutenant. 

SERGEANTS. 

Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865;  commis- 
sioned Second  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mus- 
tered. 

James  T.  Bender,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  July  10,  1865. 

Jacob  C.  Batrum,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

Reuben  Taylor,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  as  private,  for  disability, 
February  20,  1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  53 

William  Wilson,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  as  private  June  17,  1865. 

CORPORALS. 

Moroni  Owens,  Rich  land. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Frederick  B.  Jones,  Richland. 

Aujjust  9,  1862;  died  of  wounds  May  20,  1863. 
James  Scoon,  Richland. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
James  Laughlin,  Richland. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February  4, 

1863;  buried  in   National   Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Sec- 
tion C;  number  of  grave,  161. 
Nicholas  S.  Sharon,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  26,  1863. 
Thomas  Frail,  Lacon. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  M.  Powers,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862,  died  January  18,  1863. 
William  A.  Fisher,  Hopewell. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

John  C.  Barney,  Belle  Plain. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Charles  Chambers,  Richland. 

August  11, 1862,  discharged  for  disability  March  5,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

John  McWhinney,  Lacon. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Umphred  Bickel,  Belle  Plain. 

August  9,  1862;  died  June  15,  1863. 
John  Blackmore,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


54  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Jacob  Buck,  Lacon. 

August  11, 1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February 

18,  1863. 
Ithamar  Baker,  Bennington. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  ou'  July  10,  1865. 
Thomas  Burlingame,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  21,  1863. 
Horace  Burlingame,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Lewis  H.  Burlingame,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  deserted  October  4,  1862 
George  W.  Brewer,  Oxford. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  11,  1865. 

Andrew  J.  Brewer,  Lacon. 

August  22,  1862;  died  of  wounds  at  Vicksburg,  May  23, 

1863. 
Alonzo  J.  Brewer,  Belle  Plain. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
John  H.  Benson,  Putnam. 

August  9,  1862,  mustered  out  as  Corporal  July  10,  1865. 
Frank  A.  Bennett,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability   January  31, 

1863. 
Samuel  H.  Bender,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  di-charged  for  disability  December  26, 

1862. 
Rufus  A.  Chambers,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Barnard  Connolly,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22, 1863. 
Daniel  Chambers,  Roberts. 

August  9,  1862;  drowned  at  Young's  Point.  La.,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1863. 
Thompson  Criseston,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  dropped  September  3,  1863;  supposed 

to  be  dead. 
William  H.  Cassel,  Whitefield. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
George  W.  DeLong,  Roberts. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  55 

Albert  DeLong,  Roberts. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds,  May  — ,  1864. 
Peter  Degner,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds,  May  22,  1863. 
John  T.  Durham,  Lacon. 

August  9, 1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal  July  10, 1865. 
Andrew  Dufty,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  July  10,  1865. 
George  Echols,  Steuben. 

August  6,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  December  30,  1862. 
Martin  V.  Etheridge,  Hopewell. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Henry  Ebersold,  Lacon. 

August  18,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  P.  Evans,  Marshall  County. 

August  12,  1862;  deserted  November  22,  1862. 
George  Fairchilds,  Richland. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  February  7, 

1863. 
Daniel  Fowler,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  September  30, 

1863. 
Alpheus  Ford,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  deserted  November  1,  1863. 
Isaac  Ford,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  August  14, 

1864. 
William  P.  Fenn,  Lacon. 

August  22,  1862;  died  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  March  13,  1865. 
Charles  O.  Henthorn,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  30,  1865. 
Samuel  Hadlock,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Frederick  W.  Hake,  Brimfield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Martin  Hoagland,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds  at  Vicksburg,  June 

18,  1863. 
Jason  M   Hunter. 

August  13,  1862;  accidentally  killed  August  19,  1863. 


56  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

John  Harigan,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  P.  Isom,  Richland. 

August  9, 1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
Benjamin  K.  Jackson,  Richland. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Frederick  Kraft,  Lacon. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  1,  1863. 
Daniel  Kennedy,  Richland. 

August  11,  1862;  deserted  January  21,  1863. 
Apollos  Laughlin,  Lacon. 

August  19,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
William  Laidlon,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  McGowan,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Griffith  Moyer,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Ernestes  J.  Meyers,  Hopewell. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds  at  Vicksburg,  May 

30,  1863 ;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg, 

Section  G;  number  of  grave,  1006. 
Martin  V.  Meyers,  Hopewell. 

August   11,  1862;    discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1864. 
Warren  D.  Meyers,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
George  C.  Moore,  Hopenell. 

August  9,  1862;  died  of  wounds  at  St.  Louis,  Jan.  22, 

1863. 
John  Martin,  Lacon. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  April  6,  1863. 
Peter  Overmier,  Hopewell. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  R.  Owens,  Lacon. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  Post,  Lacon. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  N.  Pratt,  Belle  Plain. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  June  29,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  57 

John  W.  Riggs,  Lacon. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  20, 

1863. 
Samuel  Sawyer,  Hopewell. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Springfield,  111.,  June  21,  1864. 
Richard  Shaw,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Jesse  Sawyer,  Hopewell. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  A.  Stockton,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
David  B.  Stockton,  Chillicothe. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Scoon,  Rutland. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Cornelius  Twinam,  Lacon. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  Tronier,  Lacon. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Torrence,  Lacon. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Jacob  Vanderson,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  Dec.  21,  1863. 
John  D.  Winters,  Lacon. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Henry  Wagoner,  Lacon. 

August  13,  1862;    discharged  for  disability   Dec.  26, 

1862. 
Joseph  Willis,  Lacon. 

Amgust  11,  1862;  died   a   prisoner  of    war  at  Tyler, 

Texas,  June  17,  1864. 


ROLL    OP    COMPANY   "  E." 

CAPTAIN. 

Edwin  Stevens,  Princeville. 

September  2,  1862;  transferred  as  consolidated;  mus- 
tered out  July  10,  1865;  commissioned  Major  July  24, 
1865,  but  not  mustered. 

4 


58  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


FIRST    LIEUTENANT. 

Samuel  J.  Smith,  Hollis. 

September  2,  1862;  transferred  as  consolidated;  mus- 
tered out  July  10,  1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

James  H.  Schnebly,  Medina. 

Saptember  2,  1862;  discharged  March  28,  1863. 
Henry  L.  Bushuell,  Peoria. 

July  15,  1863;  transferred  as  consolidated;  honorably 

discharged  June  2, 1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

William  Dawson,  Rosefield. 

August  5,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  December  21,  1862. 

George  B.  Stiles,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  April  10, 
1863. 

William  I.  Brooks,  Elmwood. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Quincy,  111.,  Januarys,  1864. 

Henry  E.  Slough,  Kickapoo. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

James  Parr,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865;  commis- 
sioned Second  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mus- 
tered. 

CORPORALS. 

Henry  L.  Bushnell,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  promoted  First  Sergeant;  then  Second 

Lieutenant. 
Erasmus  1).  Richardson,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  as  private  for  disability, 

September  4,  1863. 
Wilson  G.  Morris,  Radnor. 

August  5,  1862;  deserted  September  19,'  1862. 
Benjamin  F.  Robbins,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  died  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Savannah, 

Georgia. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  59 

Ellis  Hakes,  Millbrook. 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  January  8, 
1863. 

Andrew  J.  Dunlap,  Radnor. 

Angust  4,  1862;  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo.,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1863. 

R.  McKee  Davis,  Peoria. 

July  22,  1862;  died  of  wounds,  May  27,  1863;  buried 
in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  G;  num- 
ber of  grave,  1012. 

Henry  Patf,  Kickapoo. 

August  14,  1862;  committed  suicide  July  11,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

Daniel  B.  Allen,  Elmwood. 

August  12,  1862;  promoted  Principal  Musician. 
John  W.  Carroll,  Peoria. 

August  7,  1862;  promoted  Principal  Musician  June  29, 

1864. 

WAGONER. 

Louis  Z.  Rench,  Medina. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Henry  Adams,  Peoria. 

August   21,   1862;   discharged  for  disability,  April  5, 

1863. 
Joseph  Adams,  Peoria. 

August  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  January  23, 

1863. 
Henry  M.  Brooks,  Logan. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Samuel  G.  Bunting,  Logan. 

August  12,  1862;  died  January  7,  1863. 
John  Buttrick,  Richwoods. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  Barrigan,  Radnor. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Simeon  P.  Bower,  Rosefield. 

August  4,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


60  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

John  C.  Bush,  Jubilee. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Franklin  R.  Clark,  Rosefield. 

August  16,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  March  3, 

1863. 
John  Collins,  Radnor. 

August  15, 1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  May  15, 

1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Sec- 
tion E;  number  of  grave,  197. 
Daniel  Cook,  Radnor. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  January  — ,  1863. 
John  Cook,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 
George  F.  Cord,  Medina. 

—  Mustered  out  as  Sergeant  July  10,  1865. 
Lorenzo  W.  Cord,  Peoria. 

August  — ,  1862;  died  of  wounds  May  25,  1863;  buried 

in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  G;  num- 
ber of  grave,  1036. 
Isaac  S.  Dawson,  Rosefield. 

August  6, 1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Joseph  JN".  Dawson,  Rosefield. 

August  4,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Daily,  Logan. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Evans,  Elruwood. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  March  15,  1863. 
Franklin  W,  Eslow,  Limestone. 

August  9,  1862;  died  January  8,  1863. 
Thomas  Forbes,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  S.  French,  Logan. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Silas  W.  Fisher,  Radnor. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal,  July  10, 

1865. 
Joseph  Fulton,  Richwoods. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Frederick  Gutting,  Elmwood.        , 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  61 

Philip  Goodman,  Radnor. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  February  — 

1863. 
Gustavus  Huffman,  Rich  woods. 

August  14,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
John  8.  Hamerbacher,  Rosefield. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  June  17,  1865. 
James  Hutchiusou,  Rosetield. 

August  6,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  June — ,  1863. 
Grauville  James,  Peoria. 

August  22,   1862;  discharged   for  disability,  May  30, 

1865. 
Alexander  Kinder,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  March  11,  1865; 

buried  in  National  Cainetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  F; 

number  of  grave,  25. 
Joseph  Letterman,  Jubilee. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  B.  Loughman,  Richwoods. 

August  12,  1862;  died  of  wounds  February  19,  1863. 
Edward  W.  Laugh lin,  Richwoods. 

August  12,  1862;  died  of  wounds  February  19,  1863.  ' 
James  McStravick,  Logan. 

August  13,  1862;  died  December  19,  1863. 
William  H.  Magee,  Logan. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Albert  H.  Magee,  Logan. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  July  10, 

1865. 
Jacob  Mankle,  Peoria. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Joseph  T.  Mills,  Timber. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 
Francis  M.  McDermott,  Mill  brook. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865.  * 
John  H.  Mclntyre,  Logan. 

August  11,  1862;  killed  at  Arkansas  Post,  January  11, 

1863. 
Thomas  J.  Nixon,  Rosefield. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 


62  •  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Le  Roy  Nash,  Elmwood. 

August  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  January  29, 

1863. 
Harris  Parr,  Hollis. 

August  14,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  19,  1863. 
Samuel  Perry,  Richwoods. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Samuel  A.  Rathbun,  Rosetield. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Asa  J3.  Reeves,  Smithville. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Richard  W.  Rateliff,  Peoria  County. 

August  13.  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Solomon  Ruse,  Peoria. 

August  11,  1862;  deserted  July  12,  1864. 
Thomas  J.  Randall,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  January  16, 

1863. 
David  Rogers,  Peoria  County. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability. 
Otis  B.  Smith,  Elmwood. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  W.  Smith,  Rosefield. 

August  6,  1862;  died  of  wounds  June  19,  1863. 
Charles  Stevens. 

-  Killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 
Joseph  A.  Smith,  Hollis. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  May  30,  1865. 
Cosmer  A.  Stevenson,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Robert  W.  Summers,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
James  M.  Sweet  Rosetield. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Albert  Sutton,  Trivoli. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Smith  E.  Shepler,  Richwoods. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Peter  M.  Shepler, 

Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Nov.  — ,  1862. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  63 

Cheney  W.  Thurston,  Richwoods. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Daniel  R.  Vinson,  Rosefield. 

August  7,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 
John  W.  Wood,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  October  1, 

1863. 
Thomas  White,  Logan. 

August  14,  1862;  deserted  January  1,  1864. 
Leonard  T.  White,  Logan. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  June  17, 

1865. 
David  T.  Wiggins,  Medina. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  November  1, 

1862. 
James  Watson,  Smithville. 

August  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  January  28, 

1863. 


BOLL    OP  COMPANY  "P." 

CAPTAINS. 

William  W.  Crandall,  Elmwood. 

September  18,   1862;    honorably  discharged    May  17, 

1864. 
James  K.  Secord,  Yates  City. 

July  9,  1864;  transferred  as  consolidated ;  mustered  out 

July  10,  1865. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Wiliam  O.  Hammers,  Metamora. 

September  18,  1862;  discharged  March  28,  1863. 
James  K.  Secord,  Yates  City. 

July  2,  1863;   promoted. 
George  C.  Keuyon,  Knoxville. 

July  9,  1864;    transferred   as  consolidated;    mustered 

out  August  15,  1865. 


64  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

James  K.  Secord,  Yates  City. 

September  18;  1862;  promoted. 
George  C.  Kenyon,  Knoxville. 

July  3,  1863;  promoted. 

SERGEANTS. 

George  C.  Kenyon,  Knoxville. 

August  1,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant. 

James  A.  Hammers,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865;  commis- 
sioned 1st  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mustered. 

Oliver  F.  Woodcock,  Elmwood. 

August   22,  1862;  discharged   March  12,  1864,  for  pro- 
motion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Endress  M.  Conklin,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;    discharged   for  disability   July    29, 
1864. 

Ephraim  S.  Stoddard,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered   out  as  Corporal,  June  17, 
1865. 

CORPORALS. 

Joseph  Irwin,  Belle  Plain. 

August  22,   1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  6, 

1864. 
James  T.  Martin,  Low  Point. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865,  as  Ser- 
geant; commissioned  2d  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but 

not  mustered. 
Harmon  McChesney,  Minonk. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  2,  1863. 
Lewis  Hamrick,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  June  17, 

1865. 
Francis  W.  Fisher,  Metamora. 

August  11,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
James  Sleeth,  Roseiield. 

August  22,  1862;  deserted  January  18,  1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  65 

Henry  Ferguson,  Whitefield. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  Sept.  9,  1862,  being  a  de- 
serter from  3d  Missouri  Cavalry. 

George  A.  Farnsworth,  Washburn. 

August  22,  1862;    mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  July  22, 
1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

Mitchell  T.  Graham,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  July  1,  1864. 
Charles  Nixon,  Gilson. 

August  22,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  June  22,  1863. 

PRIVATES. 

Thomas  Ashworth,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  February  4, 

1863. 
William  T.  Arrowsmith,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  January  4,  1863. 
John  Arrowsmith,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
William  Aid,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Charles  Aid,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
George  Attick,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Thomas  Beagle,  Fairview. 

August   22,  1862;    discharged   for   disabitity  April   6, 

1863. 
Charles  M.  Baldwin,  Lacon. 

August  22,    1862;    discharged   for  disability  April  6, 

1863. 
Frederick  Bolander,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  died   at  Arkansas  Post  January  13, 

1863. 
Joseph  Buckman,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Chester  Brown,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  September   30,  1862;  mi- 
nor. 


66  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

Hugh  P.  Beach,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1861 ;  discharged   March  12,  1864,  for  pro- 
motion in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops;  mustered  out  February 

22,  1867. 
Noah  J.  Crew,  Minonk. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability   December 

30,  1862. 
Jesse  Croson,  Timber. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Michael  Carrigan,  Kickapoo. 

August  15,  1862;  deserted  October  10,  1862. 
Charles  W.  Carter,  Rosefield, 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
French  Chamberlain,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;  deserted  January  20,  1863. 
John  Doran,  Radnor. 

August  10,  1862;  deserted  October  10,  1862. 
Thomas  J.  Ewing,  Princeville. 

August   22,   1862,  discharged   for  disability   April   6, 
<  1863. 
William  Fowler,  Gilson. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal,  June  17, 

1865. 
Francis  Hatton,  Belle  Plain. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Casper  Hummel,  Yates  City. 

July  28,  1862;  deserted  January  29,  1863. 
Thomas  A.  Irwin,  Knoxville. 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  August  18, 

1864. 
Hosea  Johnson,  Whitefield. 

August  22,  1862;  promoted  Corporal;  killed  at  Mans- 

field/La.,  April  8,  1864. 
John  M.  Johnson. 


-Deserted  September  18,  1862. 


Nelson  E.  Johnson,  Knoxville. 

August  22,    1862;    discharged  for  disability  May  30, 
,     1863. 
Peter  Jury,  Minonk. 

August  22,  1862;  transferred  to  130th  Ill's  Inf. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  67 

James  F.  Kent,  Yates  City. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

George  E.  Knox. 

Discharged  lor  disability  April  6,  1863. 

Sylvester  Kenyon,  Low  Point. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
George  Lawrence,  Knoxville. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered   out  as  Sergeaut,  June  17, 

1865. 
Hamilton  Lamson. 

August  22,  1862;  no  further  record. 
John  B.  Murray,  Lacon. 

August  22,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  March  3, 

1863. 
James  Miner,  Knoxville. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Moses  A.  Messenger,  Belle  Plain. 

August  22,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  E.  C.,  May  81,  1864. 
David  B.  Macy,  Yates  City. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
A.  McMullen,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  deserted  September  20,  1862. 
Allen  F.  Mitchell,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Martin  Mason,  Miuonk. 

August  22,  1862 ;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
John  W.  Miner,  Knoxville. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  January  10, 

1863. 
George  Norman,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Peter  8.  L.  Newman,  Knoxville. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  May  13,  1865. 
Charles  W.  Pierce,  Peoria. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  10,  1863. 
Jacob  Rediger,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal,  July  10, 1865. 
Jonah  Stone,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


68  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Marshall  Smiley,  Minonk. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Harmon  Seifert,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Monterville  Stone,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Andrew  Sparks,  Low  Point. 

August  22,  1M62;  deserted  January  18,  1863. 
Alonzo  D.  Stoddard,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
DeWitt  C.  Standiford,  Knoxville. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  2,  1865. 
Samuel  E.  Thomas,  Belle  Plain. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  16,  1863. 
Thomas  Thurman,  Elba. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

George  W.  Thomas,  Elba. 

August  22,  1862;  transferred    to  130th  Ill's  Inf.;  mus- 
tered out  a  prisoner  of  war,  August  15,  1865. 
John  Trump,  Metamora. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
James  M.  West,  Lacon. 

August  22,  1862;  died  at  Vicksburg,  August  10,  1863; 

buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  L; 

number  of  grave  549. 
William  H.  West,  Lacon. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865, 
John  Weaver,  Low  Point. 

August  22,  1862;  deserted  October  10,  1862. 
Henry  Walters,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  Jan.  6,  1863. 
Richard  R.  Wilkinson,  Minonk. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865 
Henry  White,  Peoria. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  February  1,  1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  69 


ROLL   OP   COMPANY   "  G." 

CAPTAIN. 

John  D.  Rouse,  Peoria. 

September  2,  1862;  transferred  as  consolidated;  trans- 
ferred to  Company  "  F,"  130th  111.  Vol.  Infantry;  mus- 
tered out  August  15,  1865. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Charles  Ireland,  Millbrook. 

September  2,  1862;  resigned  March  19,  1863. 
Henry  J.  Wyman,  Brirafield. 

May  17,  1863;  transferred  as  consolidated;  mustered  out 

June  17,  1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Frederick  H.  Osgood,  Henry. 

September  2, 1862;  honorably  discharged  March  28, 1863. 
Hiram  M.  Barney,  Brimfield. 

July  15,  1863;  resigned  September  23,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Hiram  M.  Barney,  Brimlield. 

July  22,  1862;  promoted  Second  Lieutenant. 
John  Toynbee,  Brimlield. 

August  5,  1862;  discharged  at  Quincy,  111.,  in  1864. 
Henry  J.  Wyman,  Brimlield. 

August  5,  1862;  promoted  First  Lieutenant. 
Edward  E.  Burt,  Brimlield. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  February  21, 

1863. 
William  W.  Miller,  Millbrook. 

August  14,    1862;    promoted    First  Sergeant;    killed    at 

Mansfield,  La.,  April  8,  1864. 

CORPORALS. 

William  G.  Huey,  Brimlield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  July  10,  1865. 


70  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Hugh  Smart,  Brimfield. 

August  7,  1862;  died  of  wounds  at  St.  Louis,  February 

20,  1863. 
Joseph  8.  Nightingale,  Millbrook. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  March  31,  1865. 

Timothy  Martindale,  Brimfield. 

August  5,  1862;  died  at  East  Pembroke,  N.  Y.,  August 

31,  1863. 
Stephen  J.  Cook,  Brimfield. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  B.  Curran,  Brimfield. 

August  8,  1862;  discharged  February—,  1863. 
Thomas  W.  Beckett,  Brimfield. 

August  7,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant;  died  February  28, 

1865. 
Hitz  Boney  Petrcs.  Brimfield. 

August  13,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

Wesley  R.  Andrews,  Brimfield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Robert  Cooper,  Brimfield. 

August  27,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  February  26,  1863. 

WAGONER. 

Jacob  Alderdice,  Eugene. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Adrian  R.  Aten,  Millbrook. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  July  10, 1865. 
Delos  Aldrich,  Brimfield. 

August  12,  1862;  died  of  accidental  wounds,  August  22, 

1863. 
Joab  Baily,  Brimfield. 

August  6,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
Franklin  Beltbrd,  Brimfield. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal  July  10,  1865; 
commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not 
mustered. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  71 

Daniel  Beck,  Elmwood. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865 
Moses  E.  Burt,  Rrimfield. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  July  10,  1865; 

commissioned  Captain  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mustered 
Henry  Barnes,  Brimtield. 

.      August  13, 1862;  died  at  home.      • 
Eleazer  Barnell,  Millbrook. 

August  14,  1862;  killed  at  Arkarsas  Post,  January  11, 

1863. 
Henry  C.  Brassfield,  Kickapoo. 

August  15,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
David  Baronett,  Brimfield. 

August  18,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,1865. 
William  Baronett,  Brimn'eld. 

August  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  February  23, 

1863. 
William  Curran,  Brimfield. 

August  5,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
David  G.  Campbell,  Millbrook. 

August  15  1862;  died  at  home  October  3,  Ib62. 
Charles  L.  Campbell,  Millbrook. 

August  8,  1862;  discharged  September  — ,  1862,  for  disa- 
bility. 
Samuel  W.  Campbell,  Millbrook. 

August  8,  1862;  died  at  home  October  2,  1862'. 
Joseph  J.  Camp,  Millbrook. 

August  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  March  7,  1863. 
Henry  F.  Cady,  Brimfield. 

August  11,  1862;  deserted  January  12,  1863. 
Charles  W.  Cone,  Brimfield. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  March  8, 

1863. 
William  Collister,  Eugene. 

August  14,  1862,  mustered  out  June  17,  1863. 

Russell  Darby,  Brimfield. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  IcSii,"). 

Hiram  B.  Doty,  Millbrook. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  January  31,  1863. 
John  Davidson,  Kickapoo. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis  December  26,  1862. 


72  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Austin  M.  Dustin,  Millbrook. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

Francis  0.  Dimmick,  Millbrook. 

August  22,  1862;  killed  at  Mansfield,  La,  April  8,  1864. 
William  Eaton,  Brimtield. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February 

4,  1863. 

Joseph  D.  Ensley,  Truro. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Isaac  Ensley,  Truro. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Moses  Fisher,  Brimtield. 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  April  5.  1865. 
Joseph  H.  Fetters,  Yates  City. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  Fleming,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Lafayette  Flower,  Peoria. 

August  14,  1862;  deserted  November  3,  1862. 
Littleton  A.  German,  Truro. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Erastus  L  Gilbert,  Brimfield. 

August  11,   1862;    discharged   September  26,   1863.  se- 
verely wounded. 
James  Gillins,  Brimtield. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Keokuk,  Iowa. 
Francis  W.  Griswold,  Brimtield. 

—  Mustered  out  as  Corporal,  July  10,  1865. 
William  H.  Hanna,  Millbrook. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  June  29,  1863. 
David  Hart,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  died  of  wounds  May  27,  1863. 
Jacob  Hockenberg,  Brimtield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  June  5,  1865. 
Thomas  Hatsel,  Brimtield. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Henry  Jacques,  Truro. 

August  5,  1862;  dropped  as  a  deserter,  Oct.  27,  1863. 
Romeo  W.  Jones,  Brimtield. 

Augusts,  1862;  deserted  January  29,  1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  73 

Frederick  R.  Johnson,  Brimfield. 

August  5,  18(52;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  Lawson,  Brimtield. 

August  5.  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  M.  Lambertson,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Dec.  2,  18(52. 
Heslip  W.  Laughlin,  Brimtield. 

August  14,  1862;  deserted  in  face  of  the  enemy. 
John  A.  Mendall,  Brimtield. 

August  8,  1862;  died  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  Jan.  31,  1864. 
Henry  P.  Moore,  Brimfield. 

August  11,  1862;  transferred  to  2d  Ill's  Cav.  Feb.,  1865. 
Elias  Martin,  Eugene. 

August  12,   1862;    reported  died  of  wounds  received  at 

Mansfield,  La.,  April  8.  1864. 
William  McComb,  Brimtield. 

August  10,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  18(55. 
Calvin  R.  Ogden,  Monmouth. 

August  2"),  1862;  deserted  February  21,  1863. 
David  F.  Ogden,  Monmouth. 

August  25,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
William  Onstott,  Kickapoo. 

August  19,  1862;  discharged  for  wounds   December  21, 

1863. 
Jesse  J.  Purcell,  Brimfield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Gaylord  Robinson,  Trivoli. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 

Joseph  Rogers,  Millbrook. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  December  12, 

1862.  • 
John  Swan,  Brimtield. 

August  5,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis. 
Daniel  W.  Shinmell,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  Shull,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Shull,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  W.  Slocum,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
5 


74  .         THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Daniel  Shade,  Millbrook. 

August  12,  1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  May  12, 

1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg,  Sec- 
tion E;  number  of  grave,  201. 
Franklin  Stanton,  Millbrook. 

August  13,  1862:  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Francis  Smith,  Kickapoo. 

August  22,  1862;  dropped  as  a  deserter  Dec.  12,   1863. 
Cyrus  H.  Stockwell,  Peoria. 

August  15,  1862;    died   of  wounds,   at  New   Orleans, 

June  1864. 
Samuel  Tucker,  Eugene. 

August  10, 1862;  discharged  February  18,  1863. 
Joseph  Tanner,  Millbrook. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  as   Corporal,  July  10, 

1865. 
John  M.  Ward,  Brimfield. 

August  5,  1862;  deserted  October  27,  1863. 
Washington  Wilson,  Millbrook. 

August  12,    1862;  discharged   for  disability,  April   7, 

1863. 


ROLL  OF  COMPANY  "H." 
CAPTAINS. 

Lewis  G.  Keedy,  Minonk. 

September  2,  1862;  died  January  23, 1863. 
Milgrove  B.  Parmeter,  Minonk. 

January  23, 1863;  transferred  as  consolidated;  mustered 

out  July,  10,  1865. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANT. 

Milgrove  B.  Parmeter,  Minonk. 

September  2,  1862;  promoted. 
George  H.  Jenkins,  Minonk. 

January  23,  1863;  resigned  December  14, 1863. 
Sylvester  S.  Heath,  Clayton. 

April  19,  1864;  mustered  out  at  consolidation. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.       .  t  O 


SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

John  Filger,  Minonk. 

September  2,  1862;  dismissed  March  1,  1863. 
Sylvester  S.  Heath,  Clayton. 

—  Promoted. 
William  C.  McGowan,  Minonk. 

March  16,  1865;  transferred  as  consolidated;  transferred 

to  130th  111.  Vol.  Inf.;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  Co. 

"D"    130th  Illinois,   August  12,    1865;  mustered  out 

August  15,  1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

George  H.  Jenkins,  Minonk. 

August  11,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant. 
Stephen  O.  Pillsbury,  Nebraska. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  18, 1863. 
Valentine  P.  Peabody,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
Henry  K.  Ferrin,  Minonk. 

August  9,   1862;  discharged   for   disability  August  9, 

1863. 
John  M.  Brown,  Minonk. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  3,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

William  C.  McGowan,  Minonk. 

August  11,   1862;  promoted  Sergeant;  then   2d  Lieu- 
tenant. 
David  Filger,  Minonk. 

August  11, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  June  18, 1863. 
Cyrus  K.  Snyder,  Green. 

August  11, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  6,  1864. 
Thomas  II.  Clark,  Minonk. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Private  July  10,  1865. 
David  L.  Murdock,  Nebraska. 

August  12, 1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  July  10, 1865. 
Joel  Allen,  Nebraska. 

August  8,  1862;  promoted  Hospital  Steward, 


76  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Ezra  D.  Davidson,  Clayton. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Aaron  Dean  Addis,  Minonk. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  January  5,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

Reuben  W.  Davison,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Benjamin  Wilson,  Jr.,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  10, 1865. 

PRIVATES. 

John  Arnett,  Nebraska. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  H.  Addis,  Minonk. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out|July  10,  1865. 
William  H.  Bocock,  Linn. 

August  9,   1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  July  10, 

1865;  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but 

not  mustered. 
James  P.  Brooks,  Secor. 

August  9, 1862;  died  at  New  Orleans  February  16,  1863. 
William  D.  Blake,  Long  Point. 

August  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  February  21, 

1863. 
John  Bennett,  Waldo. 

August  10,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  17, 

1863. 
Alfred  C.  Bell,  Belle  Plain. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  Clark,  Minonk. 

August  5,  1862;  discharged   for  disability  March  24, 

1863. 
Joseph  C.  Clegg,  Groveland. 

August  13,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  19,  1863; 

buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  G; 

number  of  grave,  1013. 
Charles  E.  Dunham,  Miuonk. 

August  5,   1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  January  1, 

1864. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  77 

Charles  L.  Davis,  Linn. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Asa  L.  Davison,  Clayton. 

August  6,  1862;  discharged  April  22,  1865. 
Daniel  W.  Davison,  Clayton. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  January  17,  1863. 
Robert  Deuby,  Minonk. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Charles  8.  Fuller,  Groveland. 

August  8,  1862;  discharged  February  16,  1863. 
Benjamin  F.  Fisher,  Green. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Farrell,  Nebraska. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Isaac  Grove,  Clayton. 

August  11,  1862;  killed  at  Mansfield,  La.,  April  8, 1864. 
Sylvester  8.  Heath,  Clayton. 

August  6,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant. 
Fred.  W.  Holmes,  Minonk. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  December  23, 

1863. 
Ira  Hofnagle,  Nebraska. 

August  11,  1862;  died  of  wounds  June  16,  1863. 
Gideon  P.  Holman,  Belle  Plain. 

August  9,  18(52;  discharged  March  12,  1863,  to  enlist  in 

Mississippi  Marine  Brigade. 
John  W.  Holman,  Belle  Plain. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  May  23,  1865. 
Daniel  Hollenback,  Linn. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  April  22,  1865. 
John  W.  Howell,  Nebraska. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Richard  Hnxtable,  Green. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Flavius  G.  Her  rick,  Minonk. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  January  10,  1863. 
William  D.  Irwiu,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  January 

27, 1863. 


78  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

William  W.  Jermau,  Liim. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged   for  disability,   March  12, 

1863. 
William  1).  Jones,  Long  Point. 

August  9,  1862;  died   at   Nicholasville,  Ky.,   Nov.    3, 

1862. 
George  W.  James,  Belle  Plain. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Casey  B.  James,  Clayton. 

August  9,  1862;    mustered   out  as  Corporal,   July   10, 

1865. 
Leo  Julg,  Minonk. 

August  9,   1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

7,  1865. 
Joshua  Ketchum,  Minonk. 

August  10,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Conrad  Kohl,  Groveland. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  L.  Kuowles,  Clayton. 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Milton  B.  Linn,  Clayton. 

August  2,  1862;    died  in  Woodford  County,  111.,  Dec. 

5,  1863. 
James  H.  Longfellow,  Minonk., 

August  5,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  March  29,  1863. 
Hiram  Livingston,  Minonk. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
Nathaniel  Livingston,  Clayton. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  May  23,  1865. 
Milton  G.  Marshall,  Minonk. 

August,  5,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
Stephen  W.  Maring,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  Miller,  Nebraska. 

August  10,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Frederick  Mehlhorn,  Minonk. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  P.  McCoy,  Minonk. 

Augusts,  1862;  discharged  March  10,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  79 

Joseph  McSparren,  Minonk. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  as  1st  Sergeant,  July  10, 

1865;  commissioned  1st  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but 

not  mustered. 
Enoch  R.  Nye,  Clayton. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Lorenzo  D.  Philips,  Clayton. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Alfred  B.  Poage,  Groveland. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
Fred.  Presinger,  Minonk. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Thomas  P.  Peabody,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  died  January  11,  1863. 
James  P.  Ross,  Grovelaud. 

August  7,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  March  3, 

1863. 
Thomas  Ruff,  Miuonk. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  May  29,  1865. 
Norman  D.  Richards,  Metamora. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Edwin  E.  Sampson,  Clayton. 

August  9,  1862;  died   at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  March 

25,  1863. 
John  M.  Spandau,  Peoria. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
William  B.  Self,  Nebraska. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  May  16,  1863. 
David  Smith,  Nebraska. 

August  8,  1862;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Feb.  18,  1863. 
Henry  Smith,  Nebraska. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
R.  Milton  Smilie,  Belle  Plain. 

August  9,  1862;  committed  suicide  June  6,  1865. 
Welden  R.  Smilie,  Clayton. 

—  Mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Robert  S.  Swift,  Long  Point. 

Augusts,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  1,  1863. 


80  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

John  M.  Smith,  Long  Point. 

Angust  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
William  H.  Stewart,  Groveland. 

August  12,    1862;    discharged   for  disability  May  27, 

1863. 
Michael  Stewart,  Minonk. 

August  12,  1862;  died  of  wounds  July  3,  1863. 
William  Swendeman,  Clayton. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Edward  L.  Sutton,  Minonk. 

August  6,  1862;  died  of  wounds  February  3,  1863. 
Joseph  Standaker,  Minonk. 

August  8,  1862;  died  of  wounds  January  16,  1863. 
Norman  Smilie,  Clayton. 

August  13,  1862;  discharged  November  6,  1863. 
Andrew  Sampson,  Minonk. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  Vicksburg,  August  6,  1863; 

buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg,  Section  L; 

number  of  grave,  550. 
James  Talbot,  Minonk. 

August  7,  1862;  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo.,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1863. 
John  Talbot,  Minonk. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  Jan.  9,  1863. 
Israeli).  Trowbridge,  Minonk. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  I).  Vance,  Minonk. 

August  9, 1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  W.  Vanarsdale, 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
•William  S.  Worthington,  Clayton. 

August  2,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 
Freeman  P.  Wilson,  Clayton. 

August  16,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863. 
Leonidas  M.  Wilkes,  Linn. 

August  9,  1862;  died  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  Feb.  2,  1863. 
John  H.  Williams  Minonk. 

August  6,   1862;  absent,  sick   at  muster   out  of  Regi- 
ment. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  81 

Collins  P.  Waterman,  Minonk. 

August  6,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  H.  Young,  Minonk. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  10,1863. 


ROLL    OF    COMPANY    "I." 

CAPTAIN, 

Wayne  O'Donald,  Elmwood. 

Enlisted  as  Private,  Co.  G,  8th  Missouri  Vol.  Inf., 
June  25,  1861;  promoted  Corporal,  Sergeant  and  First 
Sergeant;  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry 
and  Fort  Donelson,  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Cor- 
inth; had  the  index  finger  of  the  right  hand  shot  off 
at  Donelson  February  15,  1862;  discharged  at  Mem- 
phis, Tenn.,  July  28,  1862;  mustered  Capain  Co.  "I," 
77th  111.  Vol.,  September  2,  1862;  in  command  of  2d  Bat- 
tallion,  Camp  of  Distribution  at  New  Orleans,  La., 
December  28,  1863,  to  January  26,  1865,  at  which  time 
he  was  mustered  out  in  consequence  of  the  consolida- 
tion of  the  77th  and  130th  Regiments. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Silas  J.  Wagoner,  Elmwood. 

September^,  1862;  resigned  March  17,  1863. 

John  H.  Eno,  Elmwood. 

May  17,  1863;  resigned  June  22,  1863. 

Thomas  C.  Mathews,  Salem. 

January  22,  1864;  transferred  as  consolidated;  trans- 
ferred to  130th  111.  Vol.  Inf.;  promoted  Captain  Co. 
"D,"  130th  111.,  August  12,  1865;  mustered  out  Au- 
gust 15,  1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

John  H.  Eno,  Elmwood. 

September  22,  1862;  promoted. 
George  W.  Cone,  Elmwood. 

March  17,  1863;  commissioned  1st  Lieutenant,  but  not 

mustered;  honorably  discharged  November  20,  1863. 
Thomas  G.  Mathews,  Salem. 

June  22,  1863;  promoted. 


82  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


SERGEANTS. 

Imle  L.  Eno,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March   12, 
1863. 

George  W.  Cone,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  promoted  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

Thomas  C.  Mathews,  Salem. 

August  14,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant. 

George  L.  Lucas,  Elmwood. 

August  11,  1862;  died  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  June  25, 
1863. 

Robert  J.  Biggs,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865;  commis- 
sioned Captain  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mustered. 

CORPORALS. 

Edward  F.  Bartholomew,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  February  1, 

1863. 
Rufus  Atherton,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Eli  H.  Plowman,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Joseph  M.  Lee,  Elmwood. 

August  14, 1862;  mustered  out  as  Private  July  10, 1865. 
John  J.  Rose,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  December 

24,  1862. 
John  Wills,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  absent,  sick  at  muster  out  of  Regi- 
ment. 
John  McMullen,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Alfred  B.  Reed,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862,  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

Jasper  S.  Baker,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  January  11, 
1863. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  83 

Jacob  H.  Snyder,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


WAGONER. 

Alonzo  G.  Ellsworth,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  February  21, 
1863. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin  C.  Aten,  Millbrook. 

August  18, 1862;  mustered  outasCorporalJuly  10, 1865; 

commissioned    2d   Lieutenant   July  24,  1865,   but  not 

mustered. 
Lewis  B.  Anderson,  Salem. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Lewis  J.  Bevans,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Frederick  Beeny,  Elmwood! 

August  24,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  15,  1863. 
William  H.  Bentley,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  promoted  Corporal  October  13,  1863; 

discharged  March  17,  1864,  for  promotion  in  U.  S.  Col- 
ored Troops;  mustered  as  1st  Lieutenant  Co.  "  D,"  77th 

U.  S.  Colored  Infantry,  May  24.  1864;  transferred  to  Co. 

"H,"   10th  U.  S.  Colored  Artillery  (heavy),  October  1, 

1865;  resigned  September  18,  1866. 
Isaac  Brown,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  T.  Biggs,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  6,  1865. 
Robert  Benton,  Salem. 

August  22,  1862;  deserted  November  20,  1862. 
William  M.  Cox,  Salem. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Benton   Barracks,  Mo.,    Feb- 
ruary 2,  1863. 
John  H.  Clark,  Elmwood. 

August  14, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  27,  1863. 
Asa  A.  Cook,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
James  D.  Caldwell,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


*84  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Richard  Cowley,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
George  Darnell,  Elmwood. 

August  14, 1862;  died  at  Peoria,  111.,  September  28, 1862. 

George  M.  Dixon,  Salem. 

August  22, 1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

Enos  Frisbie,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862,  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  May  2, 
1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Sec- 
tion A ;  number  of  grave,  90. 

Jacob  Fisher,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Memphis,  December  20,  1863. 

Joel  J.  Fox,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  February  4, 
1863. 

Hiram  B.  Fox,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Jan.  1,  1864. 

Willis  H.  Ferguson,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  absent,  sick  at  muster  out  of  Regiment. 

George  T.  Finch,  Salem. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Ichabod  O.  Gibbs,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  October  2!), 
1862. 

Lemuel  Hand,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  C.  Hill,  Salem. 

August  18,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Hyne,  Elmwood. 

^  August  14,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22,  1863. 
Eli  Humphrey,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1*62;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  April  27, 

1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section 

E;  number  of  grave,  150. 
Pleasant  A.  Hildebrandt,  Elba. 

August   14,   1862;  discharged  for  disability  August  19, 

1863. 
Joseph  Huffman,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  25,  1863. 
Homer  H.  Higbie,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  85 

Barney  Hand,  Elm  wood. 

August  14,  1862;  died  June  18,  1863. 
Benedict  M.  S.  Horner,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Anthony  Hauler,  Salem. 

August  20,  1862;  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  January  3,  1863. 
Abraham  Hull,  Salem. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Sergeant  July  10,  1865; 

commissioned  1st  Lieutenant  July  24,  1865,  but  not  mus- 
tered. 
Thomas  F.  Jacobs,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  dropped  as  a    deserter,  September  3, 

1864. 
William  W.  Jacobs,  Elmwood. 

—  Mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

Butler  K.  Jones,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  March  14,  1863. 
Theodore  P.  Jarman,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  January  18, 
1863. 

John  M.  Jordan,  Salem. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Henry  Keller,  Salem. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Covington,  Kv.,  November  15, 

1862. 

James  C.  Moore,  Elmwood. 

August   14,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February 

15,   1863;  buried   in   National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg"; 

Section  C;  number  of  grave,  162. 
George  W.  McCann,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  H.  Mathews,  Salem. 

August  14,  1862;  tranferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  April  28,  1864; 

discharged  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  June  30,  1865. 
Micajah  C.  Macy,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Jan.  7,  1863. 
Daniel  D.  Moore,  Salem. 

August  14,  1862;  died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  February 

1,  1863. 
Richard  Murphy,  Elmwood. 

August  21, 1862;  deserted  September  14,  1862. 


86  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

Milton  Nunn,  Elmwood. 

August  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  1  1863. 
John  W.  Poe,  Elmwood. 

August   15,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  January  20, 

1863. 

Garret  D.  Pence,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

William  H.  Richardson,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10, 1865. 
Scott  H.  Rockeniield,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Cleves  S.  Rockenfield,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Frank  A.  Redtield,  Brimneld. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  A.  Randall,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  May  28, 

1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;    Sec- 
tion H;  number  of  grave,  92. 
Lyman  H.  Smith,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
George  S.  Smith,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  21,  1863. 
Myron  C.  Smith,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Robert  Scanlan,  Elmwood. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  February  6, 

1863. 
William  B.  Toler,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Memphis  January  15,  1863. 
Alexander  Thurman,  Salem. 

August  18,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
John  C.  Widner,  Elmwood. 

_  August  14,  1862;  deserted  October  29,  1862. 
William  H.  Warne,  Elmwood. 

August   15,  1862;   discharged  for  wounds,    October  30, 

1863. 
Jacob  D.  Wasson,  Elmwood. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  87 


Lemon  H.  Wiley,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  promoted    Principal    Musician,   June 

2!>,  1864. 

Thomas  Yerby,  Salem. 

August  15,  1862;  deserted  December  20,  1862. 


ROLL   OF    COMPANY   "  K." 

CAPTAINS. 

Ephraim  C.  Ryuearson,  Rosefield. 

September  2,  1862;  resigned  October  21,  1862. 

William  H.  White,  Rosefield. 

October  21,  1862;  mustered  out  at  consolidation. 
FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

William  H.  White,  Rosefield. 

September  2,  1862;  promoted. 
Sylvester  S.  Edwards.  Rosefield. 

October  22,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Sylvester  S.  Edwards,  Rosetield. 

September  2,  1862;  promoted. 
Marcus  O.  Harkness,  Elmwood. 

October  21,  1862;  transferred  as  consolidated;    honora- 
bly discharged  June  15,  1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

Marcus  O.  Harkness,  Elmwood. 

August  13,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant. 

Servetus  Holt,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 

John  Yinger,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865;  commis- 
sioned Captain  July  24,  1865.  but  not  mustered. 

George  Edwards,  Rosefield. 

August  7,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Private,  July  10,  1865. 
Harvey  R.  Brockett,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  Private;  died   at  Morganza,  La.,  Octo- 
ber 4,  1864. 


THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


CORPORALS. 

John  White,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1882;  mustered  out  March  19,  ISlM. 

Francis  Shorder,  Kickapoo. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

John  M.  Harper,  Roseiield. 

August   11,  1862;  discharged   for  disability    March    28, 

1863. 
George  W.  Awl,  Roseiield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Private  July  10,  1865. 
Enlee  E.  Coulson,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Private  July  10,  isr,:, 
Andrew  J.  Vleet,  Roseiield. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Oswall  B.  Green,  Rosefield. 

August  14,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Richard  M.  Holt,  Roseiield. 

August  9,  1862;  promoted  Sergeant;  died  at  Peoria,  111., 

October  5,  1864. 

MUSICIANS. 

Daniel  Slane,  Rosefield. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  for  disability. 
Charles  E.  Lines,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  deserted  October  28,  1863. 

WAGONER. 

Clement  S.  Padget,  Rosefield. 

August  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  11,  1863. 

PRIVATES. 

William  Beck,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  died  of  wounds,  May  26,  1863. 
Eli  Brown,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
J.  Henry  Brown,  Rosefield. 

August  13,  1862;  killed  at  Mansfield,  La.,  April  8,  1864. 
Patrick  Brown 

August  7,  1862;  supposed  to  have  deserted. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  89 

Henry  Behrns,  Rosefield. 

August  15,  1862;  died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  July  12, 
1863;  buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg,  Sec- 
tion B;  number  of  grave,  89. 

John  Camp,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

John  Cronan,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  died  of  wounds  July  8,  1863. 

Henry  Coulson,  Rosefield. 

—Mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

William  Clayton,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Uriah  Dunhaugh,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  discharged  June  30,  1863. 
William  Donelly,  Rosefield. 

August  22,  1862;  mustered  but  July  10,  1865. 
John  A.  Enders,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Jacob  Frank,  Peoria. 

August  16,  1862;  died. 
John  Greenhalch,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862 ;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 

Frederick  Gilson,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Roger  Greenough,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  June  15,  1864. 
Auxilius  Gurtern,  Kickapoo. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Haynes,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 
Edward  Halstead,  Rosefield. 

Mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June  17, 

1865. 
William  S.  Harper,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  May  27,  1865. 
Richard  M.  Holt,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  February  16, 

1864. 
Adam  Harding,  Rosefield. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
6 


90  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Thomas  J  Holt,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17, 1865. 
Warner  Hollinsworth,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Peter  Hoffman,  Kickapoo. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
John  Ibeck,  Rosen' eld. 

August  17, 1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Lawrence  Ibeck,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Charles  Kingsley,  Kickapoo. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  M.  King,  Rosefield. 

August  16, 1862;  killed  at  Arkansas  Post,  June  11, 1863. 
John  Kingsley,  Rosefield. 

August  7, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  12,  1864. 
Samuel  Kirkman,  Kickapoo. 

August  13,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Levi  H.  King,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  May  22,  1865. 
William  W.  King,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  May  31,  1865. 
Alonzo  Kingsley,  Rosefield. 

August  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  April  3,  1863. 
John  Lafollet,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Jacob  Lafollet,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
George  Lander,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  dropped  as  a  deserter  October  21, 1863. 
Henry  Largent,  Limestone. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Madison  Largent,  Limestone. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
James  Miller,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  absent,  in  confinement  at  muster  out 

of  Regiment. 
Henry  S.  Morris,  Rosefield. 

Mustered  out  as  Corporal,  July  10,  1865; 

commissioned  2d  Lieutenant,  but  not  mustered. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  91 

Richard  Morris,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
James  M.  Moody,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862 ;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
John  Merritt,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  died  July  15,  1863. 
Andrew  J.  Meek,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  26, 

1863. 
William  Mulvaney,  Kickapoo. 

August  8, 1862;  killed  at  Marksville,  La.,  May  16, 1864. 
Peter  Nelson,  Elmwood. 

August  15,  1862;  killed  at  Arkansas  Post,  January  11, 

1863. 
Charles  Parnham,  Rosefield. 

August  13,  1862;  transferred  to  V.  K.  C.,  February  15, 

1864. 
Henry  Perry,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Samuel  B.  Powell  Rosefield. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  Oak  Hill,  111.,  April  7,  1864. 
Joseph  Potts,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  14, 

1863. 
John  Pritchard,  Kickapoo. 

August  16,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Francis  Rynearson,  Rosefield. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  6,  1865. 
Lyman  T.  Rench,  Rosefield. 

August  11,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
William  Race,  Kickapoo. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
John  Roberts,  Kickapoo. 

August  12,  1862;  deserted  December  15,  1862. 
William  Stevenson,  Rosefield. 

—  Discharged  for  disability  November  1, 1862. 
Thomas  Sleeth,  Rosefield. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 


92  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

George  W.  Smith,  Rosetield. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  for  disability. 
Samuel  J.  Sherwood,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Ephraim  R.  Shepard,  Rosefield. 

August  9,  1862;  died  of  wounds  at  St.  Louis,  July  28, 

1864. 
Samuel  Sharkey,  Rosefield. 

August  22,  1862;  killed  at  Vicksburg  June  22,  1863; 
"buried  in  National  Cemetery  at  Vicksburg;  Section  G; 

number  of  grave,  478. 
John  Shordon,  Rosefield. 

August  8,  1862;  died  at  New  Orleans,  October  29,  1864. 
August  Sheibling,  Rosefield. 

August  15,   1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  26, 

1863. 
William  Thorp,  Limestone. 

August — ,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March   29, 

1863. 
Robert  Thompson,  Rosefield. 

August  15,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  September 

14,  1863. 
Ed.  E.  White,  Rosefield. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 
Austin  E.  Walker,  Jubilee. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  as  Corporal,  July  10, 

1865;  commissioned  1st  Lieutenant,  but  not  mustered. 
Perry  S.  Walker,  Elm  wood. 

August  13,  1862;  died  at  Peoria,  111.,  October  5,  1864. 
John  Wholstenholm,  Rosefield. 

August  15,  1862;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Joseph  Yerby,  Kickapoo. 

August  12,  1862;  mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June 

17,  1865. 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRD. 

TO  THE  FRONT. 

;S  the  spires  of  the  Central  City  were  lost 
in  the  distance,  and  every  revolution  of 
the  wheels  carried  us  farther  and  farther 
from  the  sacred  associations  of  the  home  circle, 
and  the  Sabbath  and  sanctuary  privileges  of  other 
days,  the  breast  was  tilled  with  strange  and  con- 
flicting emotions.  We  had  often  sung,  "I  wish 
I  were  in  Dixie,"  and  now  the  full  realization  of 
that  wish  was  coming  upon  us.  But  why  had 
we  thus  cut  loose,  as  it  were,  from  the  ties  and 
tender  associations  of  home  and  friendship  ? 
"Were  we  actuated  by  an  ambitious  desire  for 
conquest?  Were  we  in  search  of  laurels  to 
grace  the  victor's  brow?  Far  otherwise.  God 
forbid  that  the  welfare  and  happiness — the 
blood  and  treasure  of  thirty  millions  of  people 
should  be  made  to  subserve  the  ambitious  designs 
of  political  tricksters  or  military  despots,  either 
north  or  south.  We  went  in  obedience  to  the 
promptings  of  patriotism.  In  defense  of  that 
glorious  old  flag  under  whose  protecting  folds 
we  had  so  long  lived  and  prospered. 


94  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

The  day  succeeding  our  departure  was  the 
Sabbath,  but  it  did  not  look  like  it.  It  is  a  no- 
torious and  painful  truth  that  there  is  no  Sab- 
bath in  the  army  —  no  seventh  day  of  rest  for 
the  weary  soldier.  We  traveled  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  and  at  ten  o'clock  A.M.  arrived  at  Lo- 
gansport,  Ind.,  and  then,  turning  southward, 
reached  Indianpolis  at  5  P.M.  We  remained 
here  two  or  three  hours  before  proceeding  on 
our  way.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
train  stopped  at  a  station  by  the  way  and  re- 
mained until  after  daylight,  not  knowing  but 
the  rebel  sympathizers  in  southern  Indiana  might 
destroy  the  railroad  bridges,  and  thus  insure  our 
destruction,  as  they  knew  that  troops  were  at 
that  time  passing  over  the  road.  In  the  morn- 
ing, however,  we  went  on  and  found  to  our  great 
relief  that  the  fears  of  the  previous  night  were 
unfounded. 

All  along  the  line  of  travel  the  citizens  made 
the  most  emphatic  demonstrations  of  loyalty. 
Men,  women  and  children,  all  united  in  giving 
us  a  hearty  God-speed,  as  we  passed  along.  At 
Lawrenceburg,  on  the  Ohio  River,  the  reception 
was  particularly  gratifying.  In  fact,  our  pro- 
gress through  the  State  of  Indiana  represented  a 
triumphal  procession.  And  when  we  add  that 
these  patriotic  expressions  were  not  given  in 
compliment  to  the  Seventy-Seventh,  but  to  the 
great  enterprise  in  which  we  expected  soon  to 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  95 

be  engaged  —  the  restoration  and  preservation  of 
the  UNION — it  will  not  seem  strange  that  we  felt 
some  pride  in  our  position  as  soldiers  in  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  At  twelve 
o'clock  M.,  on  the  6th  of  October,  we  arrived  at 
Cincinnati,  and  soon  afterward  crossed  the  Ohio 
River  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  went  into  camp 
in  the  suburbs  of  Covington,  Kentucky. 

Our  first  night  at  this  place  we  regarded  as  the 
most  disagreeable  we  had  yet  experienced.  We 
had  no  tents,  and,  as  matter  of  course,  had  to 
sleep  in  the  open  air.  This  was  not  very  pleas- 
ant; but  we  made  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  en- 
joyed ourselves  as  well  as  we  could  under  the 
circumstances.  With  one  blanket  for  a  bed  and 
one  blanket  and  the  blue  canopy  of  heaven  for 
a  covering,  we  managed  to  sleep  with  a  little  — 
and  it  was  a  little — comfort.  The  next  day  we 
received  our  tents,  and  that  night  slept  more 
soundly  and  more  sweetly  than  at  any  time  since 
leaving  Peoria.  Having  become  settled  again, 
the  first  thing  in  order  was  to,  communicate  with 
friends  at  home.  Our  camp  looked  like  an  army 
of  war  correspondents.  Every  one  seemed  to  be 
writing.  Of  course  we  gave  the  full  particulars 
of  our  journey  to  this  place,  together  with  a  de- 
scription of  the  beautiful  city  of  Covington,  and 
other  matters  of  interest. 

When  we  first  came  to  Kentucky  we  felt  that 
we  were  marching  on  the  soil  of  rebellion;  but 


96  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

subsequent  experience  proved  this  to  be  an  erro- 
neous thought.  Kentucky  —  the  home  and  the 
grave  of  Henry  Clay  —  would  have  been  as  thor- 
oughly loyal  as  any  other  state  if  she  could  have 
had  a  fair  expression  of  the  popular  voice.  But 
cursed  as  she  was  with  a  disloyal  governor,  and 
occupying  a  position  midway  between  the  con- 
tending forces,  it  was  hardly  to  have  been  ex- 
pected that  her  sympathies  and  support  would 
be  wholly  on  the  one  side  or  the  other.  She  suf- 
fered much,  having  been  overrun  time  and  again 
with  the  contending  armies  of  the  North  and 
the  South.  She  became  emphatically,  true  to 
her  traditions,  the  dark  and  bloody  ground.  She 
sent  thousands  of  her  sons  into  the  Union  army, 
and  braver  men  never  fought  for  the  right. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  the  77th,  97th,  108th 
and  112th  regiments  of  Illinois  Volunteers  were 
formed  into  a  temporary  brigade,  with  Colonel 
John  Coburn,  of  the  33d  Indiana  Volunteers, 
acting  Brigadier  General,  in  command.  Colonel 
Coburn  received  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to 
march  to  the  front  on  the  16th.  Forty  rounds 
of  ammunition  for  each  man  was  to  be  carried  in 
the  cartridge  boxes,  thirty  more  per  man  to  be 
drawn  by  the  regiments,  and  thirty  rounds  extra 
to  be  drawn  and  transported  in  the  company 
wagons.  Five  days'  rations  were  also  drawn; 
three  to  be  carried  in  the  company  wagons,  and 
two  in  the  haversacks  of  the  men. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  97 

Our  time  was  iiow  fully  occupied  in  making 
preparations  for  an  advance  into  the  interior 
of  Kentucky.  We  were  supplied  with  teams 
and  wagons  for  transportation,  consisting  of  one 
for  each  company,  three  for  the  headquarters  of 
the  regiment,  and  one  for  the  hospital.  We  were 
furnished  with  great-coats  and  all  the  clothing 
necessary  to  make  us  comfortable  during  the 
cold  days  and  nights  which  were  then  fast  ap- 
proaching. In  short,  we  were  now  prepared  to 
take  up  the  line  of  march  and  enter  upon  the 
duties  of  active  service. 

At  noon  on  the  17th  we  commenced  the  for- 
ward movement.  We  had  to  carry  our  blan- 
kets, clothing,  etc.,  our  haversack  with  two  days.' 
rations,  canteen,  gun  and  cartridge-box,  the  lat- 
ter containing  forty  rounds  of  ammunition,  and 
the  whole  weighing  about  sixty  pounds.  Thus 
armed  and  equipped  we  began  our  campaigns. 
Our  march  for  a  few  miles  was  on  the  public 
highway  leading  to  Lexington,  but  we  soon 
turned  to  the  left  and  marched  through  one  of 
the  roughest  countries  we  had  ever  seen.  Hills 
were  piled  upon  hills,  and  the  rocky  surface  of 
the  ground  indicated  that  all  the  stones  in  Ken- 
tucky had  been  gathered  together  and  deposited 
along  our  line  of  march.  So  great  were  the  dif- 
ficulties we  had  to  contend  with  that  it  was  fre- 
quently impossble  for  the  teams  to  descend  the 
hills  without  assistance  from  the  men.  We  con- 


98  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

trasted  the  country  through  which  we  passed 
with  the  broad  and  fertile  prairies  of  our  own 
loved  Illinois.  And  what  a  contrast !  It  seemed 
like  an  exchange  of  Paradise  for  the  drear  do- 
minions of  Pluto.  But  this  was  not  a  fair  spec- 
imen of  Kentucky.  We  found  after  emerging 
from  the  hills  and  hollows  that  the  State  was 
rich  in  all  the  elements  of  agricultural  wealth, 
and  required  only  the  hand  of  industry  and  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  to  develop  in  her  soil  the 
most  abundant  resources. 

As  we  marched  along,  a  decided  Union  senti- 
ment was  manifested  at  several  points,  while  at 
others  the  grim  visage  of  the  secession  Moloch 
could  be  seen,  showing  that  some  of  the  people 
were  not  loyal  to  the  government.  Frequently, 
as  we  passed  through  the  towns,  the  citizens 
would  fling  the  starry  banner  to  the  breeze,  as  a 
token  of  their  loyalty.  Bat  we  were  informed 
that  most  of  the  people  had  rebel  flags,  also,  in 
their  houses,  to  use  as  occasion  required.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  whenever  the  Flag  of  our  Union 
made  its  appearance  it  was  greeted  with  the 
most  enthusiastic  cheers  by  the  men. 

Who  ever  heard  or  dreamed  of  a  Kentucky 
snow  storm  in  the  month  of  October  ?  Yet,  on 
the  night  of  the  25th  of  this  month,  we  experi- 
enced one  which  we  can  never  forget.  On  the  fol- 
lowing morning  we  had  the  pleasure  of  rolling 
up  our  tents  in  the  snow.  That  night,  after  a 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS,  99 

march  of  twenty-five  miles,  we  arrived  at  Paris. 
Footsore  and  weary,  our  first  impulse  was  to 
throw  ourselves  on  the  ground  and  seek  rest  and 
refreshment  in  sleep;  but  knowing  the  danger 
of  such  an  expedient,  we  kept  in  motion,  pitched 
our  tents,  prepared  supper,  and  after  eating  it, 
turned  in  with  a  hearty  good  will.  It  was  amus- 
ing to  see  our  predicament  the  next  morning. 
Boots  and  shoes  were  frozen  stiff,  and  many  of 
us  could  not  get  them  on.  Groups  of  the  boys 
would  cluster  around  the  camp-fires  thawing 
their  leather,  to  the  no  small  annoyance  of  the 
cooks.  If  these  worthy  dignitaries  did  not  ut- 
ter "  curses,  loud  and  deep,"  it  was  because  they 
were  endowed  with  more  than  ordinary  patience 
and  good  nature.  There  was  more  truth  than 
poetry  in  our  situation;  but  it  was  all  for  the 
love  of  country,  and,  of  course,  necessary  for 
the  suppression  of  the  rebellion.  On  the  29th 
we  reached  Lexington,  a  beautiful  city,  and  for- 
merly the  home  of  the  notorious  rebel  cavalry 
chief,  John  Morgan.  Here  we  remained  one  day 
only,  and  then  continued  the  march,  arriving  at 
Richmond  at  4  o'clock  on  the  second  of  Novem- 
ber. 

A  severe  battle  was  fought  at  this  place,  Au- 
gust 30,  1862,  between  the  rebel  General  Kirby 
Smith  and  General  Nelson,  in  which  the  latter 
was  defeated  with  great  loss.  In  the  cemetery 
adjoining  the  town  were  many  graves  of  union 


100  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

and  rebel  soldiers.  There  they  lie,  from  all  parts 
of  the  country  —  north  and  south,  east  and  west 
—  and  there  they  shall  lie  until  the  archangel's 
trump  shall  bid  them  come  forth  to  judgment. 
Many  beautiful  and  costly  monuments  in  the 
cemetery  were  shattered  and  defaced  by  the 
missiles  of  the  contending  forces,  thus  bearing 
mournful  witness  of  the  fight. 

Our  stay  at  this  place  was  one  of  the  bright 
spots  in  our  soldier-life  —  an  oasis  in  the  desert 
through  which  we  were  passing.  We  had  a 
beautiful  camping-ground,  our  duties  were  light, 
and  the  weather  delightful.  The  Seventy-Sev- 
enth was  the  only  regiment  at  the  place.  Cap- 
tain J.  M.  McCulloch,  of  Co.  "  C,"  was  appointed 
Provost  Marshal,  and  he  filled  the  duties  of  his 
office  with  credit  to  himself,  and  to  the  entire' sat- 
isfaction of  the  citizens.  While  here  we  found 
large  quantities  of  arms  which  had  been  lost  in 
the  battle  of  August  30th,  and  afterward  col- 
lected together  and  secreted  by  the  negroes. 
These  arms  were  properly  taken  care  of,  and  in 
due  time  turned  over  to  the  military  authorities 
at  Lexington.  But  our  stay  here  was  rendered 
pleasant  from  the  fact  that  the  people  were  so 
kind  and  considerate.  Many  of  the  boys  were 
sick  in  the  hospital,  and  the  ladies  —  God  bless 
them  —  like  ministering  angels,  came  arid  sup- 
plied their  wants  with  an  abundance  of  provi- 
sions acceptable  to  the  sick  palate.  But  we  need 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  101 

not  pronounce  encomiums  upon  them  for  their 
kindness.  The  consciousness  of  having  nobly 
done  their  duty  to  the  sick  and  suffering  is  their 
abundant  reward.  It  becomes  us,  however,  as 
members  of  the  Seventy-Seventh,  to  remember 
Richmond,  Kentucky,  with  gratitude. 

An  amusing  incident,  as  well  as  a  good  joke 
on  some  of  the  boys,  occurred  while  in  camp  at 
this  place.  The  ladies  vied  with  each  other  in 
their  attentions  to  the  officers,  and  in  order  to 
return  the  compliment,  some  of  our  musical 
Peorians  proposed  a  serenade.  The  suggestion 
was  duly  acted  upon,  and  on  a  pleasant  evening 
they  sallied  forth  to  carry  out  the  programme. 
Selecting  one  of  the  finest  mansions  in  the  town 
as  the  object  of  their  attentions,  they  soon 
poured  forth  such  a  gushing  stream  of  melody 
that  the  hardest  heart  would  have  melted  under 
its  influence.  The  fair  objects  of  their  devotion 
within  the  mansion  acknowledged  the  compli- 
ment by  the  waving  of  scarfs  and  handkerchiefs 
from  the  windows.  These  tokens  inspired  the  mu- 
sicians with  greater  zeal,  and  they  answered  the 
encore  a  second  and  a  third  time,  and  in  all  prob- 
ability would  have  remained  there  all  night,  had 
uot  the  door  opened  followed  by  this  pleasing 
salutation  :  "  Much  'bliged  gemman,  for  de  mu- 
sic, and  werry  sorry  de  white  ladies  warn't  at 
home  to  hear  it." 

Let  us,  before  leaving  this  beautiful  town  of 


102  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Richmond,  snatch  from  cold  oblivion  an  elegant 
specimen  of  southern  literature.  The  scholmaster 
was  evidently  abroad  in  those  regions,  The  fol- 
lowing lines  were  written  in  pencil  on  one  of  the 
monuments  in  the  cemetery.  The  extract  is 
given  verbatim  et  literatim: 

"  J.  C.  Dunn  Esq,  I  live  in  South  Western  Ga 
on  Flint  River  I  were  mustered  into  service  10 
Day  of  Ap  1861  and  this  Sep  15  1862  Come  all 
soldiers  a  Warnin  Take  &  shun  the  Bite  of  a 
Big  Snake." 

When  "  J.  C.  Dunn  Esq,"  placed  his  autograph 
on  that  monument  it  became  public  property  — 

"  One  of  the  few,  the  immortal  names, 
That  were  not  born  to  die." 

Hence  it  is  transferred  to  these  pages. 

Richmond  was  the  southern  terminus  of  our 
campaign  in  Kentucky;  and  having  remained 
here  a  few  days  we  took  up  the  line  of  march 
again,  turning  our  faces  to  the  northwest — des- 
tination, Louisville  immediately,  and  Memphis 
ultimately.  We  struck  tents  on  the  eleventh  of 
November,  and  on  the  fourteenth  reached  Frank- 
fort, the  capital  of  the  State.  We  remained  here 
one  day,  and  then  continued  the  march,  arriving 
at  Louisville  on  the  seventeenth — a  wet,  gloomy 
day.  We  had  now  marched  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  in  this  State,  and  had  learned 
something  of  the  vicissitudes  of  a  soldier's  life; 
but  what  we  had  accomplished  more  than  this, 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  103 

is  one  of  those  things  that  no  fellow  could  ever 
find  out. 

It  is  needless  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the 
return  march  through  Kentucky,  as  it  was  but  a 
repetition  of  our  former  experience.  The  same 
weary  marches  —  the  same  false  alarms  —  the 
same  real  or  pretended  loyalty  of  the  people  — 
the  same  boisterous  enthusiasm  in  the  Regiment 
— the  same  exodus  of  slaves  from  bondage.  The 
latter  part  of  the  programme  was  one  of  the 
notable  features  of  the  march,  and  was  some- 
times attended  with  serio-comical  consequences. 
Whenever  an  "  American  citizen  of  African  de- 
scent" made  his  appearance,  he  was  ordered  to 
"  fall  in,"  which  was  done  in  most  instances  with- 
out reluctance.  In  this  manner  he  was  enticed 
away  from  his  legal  owner — legal  according  to 
the  laws  of  the  State,  but  not  legal  according  to 
our  notions.  And,  no  doubt,  visions  of  happiness 
in  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  danced 
through  his  woolly  head  as  he  turned  his  back  on 
his  former  home,  and  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  Regiment. 

To  such  an  extent  was  this  slave  enticing  pro- 
pensity indulged,  that  Gen.  Burbridge,  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  was  reported  to  have  said  that  the 
Seventy-Seventh  was  an  abolition  regiment,  and 
would  steal  all  the  niggers  in  Kentucky  if  they 
had  a  chance  to  do  so.  But  of  course  we  repel 
with  scorn  and  indignation  the  idea  that  our 


104  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

mildly  mannered  Brigadier-General,  would  be 
guilty  of  casting  any  such  reflections  upon  us. 
At  all  events  we  had  quite  a  regiment  of  darkies 
following  in  our  wake,  like  a  troop  of  boys  fol- 
lowing an  organ  grinder,  with  a  monkey  on  his 
"tnasheen" 

As  above  remarked,  we  reached  Louisville  on 
the  17th,  but  did  not  remain  long  at  that  place. 
On  the  evening  of  the  20th  we  marched  to  Port- 
land, and  embarked  on  the  steamer  "Starlight," 
bound  for  Memphis,  Tenn.  Early  the  next 
morning  we  started  down  the  river.  The  boat 
was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  There  was 
not  a  nook  or  corner,  above  or  below,  fore  or  aft, 
that  was  not  occupied,  either  by  soldiers  or  their 
baggage.  The  consequence  was  that  we  were 
almost  suffocated.  The  boys  would  endeavor  to 
while  away  the  tedious  hours  of  their  imprison- 
ment by  singing  snatches  of  homely  songs,  of 
which  the  following  is  a  specimen  : 

"  Oh  give  me  the  girl  with  the  blue  dress  on, 

The  white  folks  call  Susanna; 
She  stole  my  heart  and  away  she's  gone, 
'Way  down  to  Louisiana." 

Little  did  the  songsters  imagine  that  they, 
themselves,  would  so  soon  be  in  Louisiana. 

In  those  days,  the  country  bordering  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  was  infested  with 
marauding  bands  of  guerrillas  and  bushwhack- 
ers, rendering  navigation  somewhat  uncertain,  if 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  105 

not  hazardous.  In  consequence  of  this  we  did 
not  travel  at  night.  At  3  o'clock  P.M.  of  the  2d, 
we  reached  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  remained  there 
until  the  next  day  at  noon.  On  the  25th  we 
landed  for  a  few  minutes  at  Cairo,  111.,  and  soon 
after  were  floating  on  the  bosom  of  the  mighty 
Father  of  Waters. 

On  our  journey  down  this  river  we  passed 
t  Island  No.  10,  Belmont,  Columbus  and  other 
spots  of  historic  interest,  where,  a  few  months 
before,  the  thunders  of  artillery  had  waked  the 
slumbering  echoes  of  the  valley.  It  was  at  these 
points  that  Grant  and  Foote  had  demonstrated 
the  invincibility  of  the  American  Army  and 
Navy.  Here  they  had  written  a  bloody  page  in 
the  history  of  our  country,  which  can  never  be 
obliterated.  Here  they  began  that  series  of  bril- 
liant achievements  which  resulted  in  the  final 
reopening  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  restoration 
of  our  national  authority  on  that  stream  from  its 
source  to  its  mouth. 

We  landed  at  Memphis  on  the  27th,  and  went 
into  camp  near  the  city.  Before  our  arrival, 
there  had  been  large  bodies  of  troops  encamped 
in  this  vicinity,  but  they  had  moved  off  in  the 
direction  of  Holly  Springs,  for  the  purpose  of 
operating  in  Mississippi.  The  first  thing  in  order 
with  us,  was  to  ransack  the  camps  which  they 
had  deserted,  to  obtain  building  materials  where- 
with to  render  our  abodes  comfortable.  In  this 
7 


106  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

we  succeeded  to  our  entire  satisfaction.  But  in 
the  present  instance,  as  in  many  others,  we  had 
no  sooner  arranged  our  encampment  to  suit  us 
than  we  received  marching  orders. 

Red  tape  regulations  require  the  troops  to  ap- 
pear on  review  before  the  commanding  general, 
previous  to  entering  upon  an  active  campaign, 
and  as  "  coming  events  cast  their  shadows 
before,"  this  was  always  regarded  as  a  "shadow" 
indicating  field  operations  in  the  near  fu- 
ture. Perhaps  this  practice  of  reviewing 
the  troops  may  be  attributed  to  a  pardonable 
curiosity  on  the  part  of  the  general  in  command. 
In  accordance  with  this  laudable  custom  we  ap- 
peared on  review  before  Major  General  W.  T. 
Sherman,  at  Memphis.  The  review  took  place 
on  a  level  plain  near  Fort  Pickering.  The  pro- 
ceedings appeared  to  be  satisfactory  to  the  gen- 
eral and  all  concerned,  and  when  they  were 
ended,  we  returned  to  camp  to  seek  rest  and 
supper  after  the  toils  of  the  day.  As  we  marched 
through  the  streets  of  the  city,  on  our  return, 
the  boys  made  a  noise  and  clatter  as  unearthly 
and  unintelligible  as  was  ever  heard  at  the  Tower 
of  Babel.  Some  would  sing  and  some  would 
crow,  some  would  cackle  and  some  would  squeal. 
Altogether  the  concert  was  neither  musical  nor 
entertaining.  No  doubt  the  citizens  of  Memphis 
thought  the  regiment  was  either  drunk  or  crazy. 

On   the  20th   of  December   marching   orders 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  107 

were  received,  and  we  proceeded  to  embark  on 
the  steamer  "Duke  of  Argyle,"  lying  a  short 
distance  below  the  city.  The  next  day  at  2 
o'clock  P.  M.,  we  started  down  the  Mississippi, 
hoping  that,  before  long,  we  would  be  hailed  as 
the  victors  of  Vicksburg.  Our  fleet  consisted  of 
many  transports  and  gunboats,  carrying  a  large 
and  well  appointed  army.  . 

Gentle  reader,  if  you  have  never  carried  arms 
in  an  active  campaign  —  if  you  have  never  fol- 
lowed in  the  wake  of  an  advancing  host  —  if  you 
have  never  crossed  the  track  of  an  invading 
army,  you  know  but  little  of  the  desolations  of 
war.  It  matters  not  whether  the  army  is  friend 
or  foe — the  result  is  the  same.  They  leave  the 
silence  of  the  grave  and  the  dreariness  of  the 
desert  behind  them.  We  saw  this  fact  abun- 
dantly illustrated  on  our  passage  down  the  Mis- 
sissippi. All  along  the  river  from  Memphis  to 
Vicksburg,  we  could  trace  the  footsteps  of  an 
advancing  army,  by  the  mouldering  ruins  of 
buildings,  the  former  magnificent  residences  of 
the  rich  planters  of  the  south.  And  we  won- 
dered how  long  it  would  require  the  slow,  con- 
servative enterprise  of  these  people  to  regain 
their  lost  opulence.  Perhaps  a  lifetime. 

At  this  time  we  formed  a  part  of  the  2d  Bri- 
gade, 1st  Division  of  the  13th  Army  Corps. 
The  brigade  was  commanded  by  Col.  W.  J.  Lan- 
drani  of  the  19th  Kentucky,  and  consisted  of  the 


108  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

19th  Kentucky,  the  48th  Ohio,  and  the  77th, 
97th,  108th  and  131st  Illinois,  and  the  17th  Ohio 
battery.  The  division  was  commanded  by  Brig- 
adier General  A.  J.  Smith. 

We  moved  leisurely  down  the  river  as  though 
we  were  on  a  pleasure  excursion,  rather  than  en- 
gaged in  a  great  arid  important  military  expedi- 
tion. It  is  not  our  province  to  criticise  or  con- 
demn, but  it  seems  very  strange  that  it  should 
require  a  whole  week  for  the  fleet  to  sail  a  dis- 
tance of  four  hundred  miles.  One  thing  is  cer- 
tain—  our  slow  progress  gave  the  rebels  ample 
time  to  prepare  for  our  reception.  And  the  time 
was  well  improved,  as  we  afterward  found  to  our 
cost.  However,  on  the  27th  of  December,  we 
landed  in  the  Yazoo  River  about  ten  miles 
from  its  mouth.  Skirmishers  were  immediately 
thrown  out,  the  lines  formed,  and  an  advance 
ordered.  The  enemy  was  met  in  force,  and  a 
terrible  conflict  ensued,  lasting  several  hours. 
The  rebels  were  driven  beyond  two  bayous  that 
girt  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  from  their  en- 
trenchments on  the  Hill.  At  night  the  two  ar- 
mies slept  on  their  arms,  with  the  two  bayous 
intervening.  At  daylight  on  Sunday,  the  28th, 
a  concerted  advance  was  made,  and  by  sunrise 
the  whole  army  was  engaged,  and  up  to  ten 
o'clock  the  artillery  and  musketry  firing  was 
very  heavy  and  destructive. 

The  enemy  in  front  of  Gen.  Morgan  L.  Smith's 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  109 

Division,  were  entrenched  on  high,  rising  ground. 
This  position  was,  after  a  desperate  and  bloody 
conflict,  taken  by  storm.  On  Monday  the  battle 
was  renewed;  our  forces  carried  the  rifle  pits  and 
principal  battery,  but  were  finally  repulsed  and 
lost  their  ground.  Both  armies  rested  during 
the  night.  Skirmishing  continued  for  three  or 
four  days,  but  all  to  no  purpose,  so  far  as  we 
were  concerned.  During  those  days  and  nights 
we  could  distinctly  hear  the  rattle  of  the  trains 
on  the  Vicksburg  and  Brandon  railroad,  carry- 
ing reinforcements  and  supplies  to  the  besieged. 
In  the  mean  time  the  rebels  were  busy  strength- 
ening their  .works  by  every  available  means. 
What  could  we  do  ?  It  was  madness  to  attempt 
to  carry  the  works  by  storm.  And  to  remain  in 
our  present  position  would  insure  our  defeat,  if 
not  destruction,  as  soon  as  the  enemy  should  ob- 
tain additional  troops  to  enable  him  to  act  on 
the  offensive.  In  this  emergency  Gen.  Sherman 
reluctantly  decided  to  withdraw  and  reembark 
the  troops.  This  was  successfully  accomplished 
on  the  morning  of  January  2d,  1863r  and  our 
first  attack  on  Vicksburg  was  a  costly  failure. 
The  entire  loss  in  our  army  during  the  six  days' 
fighting,  including  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
was  about  twenty-five  hundred. 

This  was  the  first  engagement  in  which  the 
Seventy-Seventh  was  engaged.  Until  now  we 
had  never  seen  a  gun  tired  in  battle.  We  had 


110  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

read  glowing  accounts  of  battles  bravely  fought 
and  won;  we  had  seen  pictures  representing  bril- 
liant bayonet  charges,  and  all  that.  But  we  had 
not  been  called  upon  to  perform  any  deeds  of 
daring,  such  as  storming  the  enemy's  works  bris- 
tling with  bayonets,  or  planted  with  batteries. 
Nothing  of  this  kind.  But  we  endeavored  to 
the  best  of  our  ability  to  discharge  the  duties 
assigned  to  us,  and  if  we  did  not  earn  a  reputa- 
tion worthy  of  record  on  this  occasion  it  is 
hoped  that  the  subsequent  achievements  of  the 
Regiment  compensated  to  some  extent  for  the 
deficiency.  After  "  our  masterly  retreat  from 
the  Youza"  as  some  of  the  boys  called  it,  the 
army  proceeded  to  Milliken's  Bend,  on  the  Lou- 
isiana shore  about  ten  miles  up  the  river,  there 
to  rest,  or  to  make  preparations  for  conquest  in 
some  other  direction. 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTH. 


ARKANSAS  POST. 

I  BOUT  the  time  of  our  withdrawal  from 
the  attempt  on  Vicksburg,  Major  Gen- 
eral John  A.  McClernand  appeared  on 
the  scene,  having  been  appointed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, to  supercede  General  Sherman  in  command 
of  the  forces  operating  against  Vicksburg.  This 
transfer  of  authority  was  announed  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms : 

HEADQUARTERS  RIGHT  WING  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE,   ] 
STEAMER  FOREST  QUEEN, 

MILLIKEN'S  BEND,  January  4,  1863. ) 

General  Orders  No.  5. 

Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  General  or- 
ders, No.  1,  made  this  day  by  General  McCler- 
nand, the  title  of  our  army  ceases  to  exist,  and 
constitutes  in  the  future  the  Army  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, composed  of  two  army  corps,  one  to  be 
commanded  by  General  G.  W.  Morgan,  and  the 
other  by  myself.  In  relinquishing  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  restricting 
my  authority  to  my  own  corps,  I  desire  to  ex- 
press to  all  commanders,  to  soldiers  and  officers 


112  THE  SEVENTY- SEVENTH 

recently  operating  before  Vicksburg,  my  hearty 
thanks  for  their  zeal,  alacrity  and  courage  mani- 
fested by  them  on  all  occasions.  We  failed  in 
accomplishing  one  purpose  of  our  movement, 
the  capture  of  Vicksburg;  but  we  were  part  of 
a  whole.  Ours  was  but  part  of  a  combined  move- 
ment in  which  others  were  to  assist.  We  were  on 
time;  unforeseen  contingencies  must  have  delayed 
the  others.  We  have  destroyed  the  Shreveport 
road,  we  have  attacked  the  defenses  of  Vicks- 
burg, and  pushed  the  attack  as  far  as  prudence 
would  justify,  and  having  found  it  too  strong 
for  our  single  column,  we  have  drawn  oft'  in 
good  order,  ready  for  any  new  move.  A  new 
commander  is  -here  to  lead  you.  He  is  chosen  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  who  is 
charged  by  the  Constitution  to  maintain  and 
defend  it,  and  he  has  the  undoubted  right  to  se- 
lect his  own  agents.  I  know  that  all  good  officers 
and  soldiers  will  give  him  the  same  hearty  support 
and  cheerful  obedience  they  have  hitherto  given  me. 
There  are  honors  enough  for  all,  and  work 
enough  too.  Let  each  do  his  appropriate  part, 
and  our  nation  must  in  the  end  emerge  from  this 
dire  conflict  purified  and  ennobled  by  the  fires 
which  now  test  its  strength  and  purity.  All  offi- 
cers of  the  general  staff  now  attached  to  my 
person,  will  hereafter  report  in  person  or  by  let- 
ter to  Major  General  McClernand,  commanding 
the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  on  board  the 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  113 

steamer    Tigress   at   our   rendezvous   at   Gains' 
Landing  and  at  Montgomery  Point. 
By  order  of 

Maj.  Gen.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
J.  H.  HAMMOND,  A.  A.  Gr. 

The  army  as  now  organized,  consisted  of  the 
13th  and  15th  Army  corps,  the  former  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Morgan,  and  the  latter  by  Gen. 
Sherman.  With  this  force,  consisting  of  about 
twenty-five  thousand  men,  at  his  command,  Gen. 
McClernand  cut  loose  from  Milliken's  Bend  on 
the  5th  of  January  and  started  up  the  river. 
We  knew  not  our  destination.  But,  as  is  usual 
on  such  occasions,  each  man  had  a  destination  to 
suit  himself.  Many  conjectures  were  afloat 
with  regard  to  the  future  objects  of  the  expedi- 
tion, and  the  camp  was  full  of  rumors.  Some 
said  we  were  going  into  Arkansas  to  clean  out  a 
nest  of  rebels  said  to  be  in  that  state.  Others, 
who  had  no  stomach  for  fighting,  contended 
with  equal  earnestness  that  we  were  going  into 
camp  at  Memphis,  to  revel  in  ease  and  feast  on 
army  luxuries.  While  a  good  many  of  the 
more  sanguine  thought  we  were  going  home  to 
be  mustered  out  of  the  service;  never  doubting 
that  our  assaults  on  the  ramparts  of  Vicksburg 
had  totally  annihilated  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy and  all  its  hosts.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
those  who  dreamed  of  ease,  either  at  home  or  at 
Memphis,  were  sadly  disappointed. 


114  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

We  sailed  up  the  Mississippi,  and  then  up  the 
White  River  until  we  reached  a  "  cut  off,"  lead- 
ing into  the  Arkansas.  We  proceeded  up  the 
latter  stream  until,  on  the  10th  of  January,  we 
landed  about  three  miles  below  the  old  French 
town  of  Arkansas  Post,  where  the  rebels  had 
erected  a  strong  earthwork,  called  Fort  Hind- 
man.  Our  destination  was  now  manifest  to  the 
most  casual  observer.  We  were  in  for  a  tight; 
that  was  very  plain.  We  disembarked  in  the 
afternoon,  formed  our  lines  and  proceeded  to 
invest  the  rebel  works.  This  was  accomplished 
about  10  o'clock  at  night.  We  slept  on  our 
arms  and  waited  for  the  dawn,  expecting  to 
wake  the  echoes  of  the  morning  with  the  roar 
of  battle. 

Our  military  leaders  were  very  economical  of 
time,  acting  probably  upon  the  supposition  that 
time  is  money,  or  that  lost  time  is  never  found 
again,  and  hence  in  reading  the  history  of  the 
war,  and  observing  days  and  dates,  we  find  that 
many  of  our  most  important  military  operations 
took  place  on  iSunday.  Bull  Run,  Shiloh,  and 
many  other  bloody  fields  attest  the  truth  of  this 
remark.  Those  who  have  conscientious  scruples 
about  this  method  of  remembering  the  Sabbath 
day  to  keep  it  holy,  contend  that  the  attacking 
party  is  always  defeated;  while  Napoleon,  and 
others  of  the  same  habit  of  thinking,  have  main- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  115 

tained  that  providence  favors  the  heaviest  bat- 
tallions,  without  regard  to  the  day  of  the  week. 
The  day  succeeding  the  investment  of  Fort 
Hiudman  was  the  Sabbath  —  clear,  calm  and 
beautiful.  It  was  a  day  made  for  rest  and  the 
worship  of  God,  and  not  for  human  slaughter. 
Yet  there  were  hostile  hosts  of  armed  men  con- 
fronting each  other,  and  only  waiting  for  the 
command  to  begin  the  work  of  death.  It  was  a 
fearful  thought.  How  many  widows  and  or- 
phans would  weep  over  that  field  of  conflict ! 
The  morning  wore  away  —  the  sun  rose  high 
and  passed  the  meridian  —  at  length  the  sacred 
stillness  of  the  day  was  broken  by  the  roar  of 
artillery,  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  din  of 
battle.  The  artillery  and  the  gunboats  began 
the  action  at  about  half-past  one  o'clock  p.  M., 
and  soon  after  the  infantry  was  engaged  around 
the  whole  line.  At  this  time  the  Seventy-Sev- 
enth was  in  reserve  about  two  hundred  yards  in 
rear  of  the  Nineteenth  Kentucky,  with  or- 
ders to  maintain  that  distance  between  the  two 
lines,  governing  our  movements  by  the  move- 
ments of  those  in  front  of  us.  But  we  had  not 
long  been  in  this  position  until  we  were  ordered 
to  move  to  the  right,  and  take  position  one  hun- 
dred yards  behind  the  Eighty-Third  Ohio.  We 
marched  by  the  right  flank  about  three  hundred 
rods,  and  then  in  line  of  battle  in  the  direction 
of  the  fort. 


116  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

We  now  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  rebel 
tire.  But  the  Regiment  moved  steadily  forward 
through  the  timber,  and  into  the  open  field  be- 
yond, until  we  reached  the  position  assigned  to 
us.  We  had  been  here  but  a  short  time  when 
an  order  came  from  our  brigade  commander  to 
"  go  in."  And  then  we  heard  the  well-known, 
clear,  ringing  voice  of  Col.  Grier  commanding, 
" SEVENTY-SEVENTH,  forward,  guide  centre, march" 
Every  man  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  with  loud 
cheers  and  yells  of  defiance,  rushed  forward. 
The  83d  refused  to  advance,  and  we  were  com- 
pelled to  charge  over  them  in  the  face  of  a  ter- 
rible fire  from  the  fort.  As  we  passed  over  them 
we  made  it  a  matter  of  necessity  to  tramp  on  as 
many  as  possible,  at  which  they  threw  a  few  old 
fashioned  anathemas  after  us.  This  we  consid- 
ered very  uugentlemanly,  and  especially  so  as  it 
was  Sunday.  We  took  position  about  eighty 
yards  in  advance  of  them.  Here  we  fired  about 
twenty  rounds,  when  Col.  Grier  ordered  another 
advance.  We  moved  forward  about  fifty  yards 
further,  when  we  were  considerably  in  advance 
of  any  other  regiment  in  the  division,  and  within 
easy  pistol  range  of  the  works.  It  was  here  that 
we  sustained  our  heaviest  loss.  It  was  here  that 
our  color  bearer,  John  S.  Hornbaker,  of  Co. 
"  C,"  was  wounded  and  left  the  field.  As  he  fell, 
Lieut.  Philip  Jenkins,  of  the  same  company, 
seized  the  colors,  arid  carried  them  during  the 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  117 

remainder  of  the  action,  and  until  the  Regiment 
entered  the  fort,  when  MajorHotchkiss  took  the 
flag  and  proudly  planted  it  on  the  parapet.  These 
are  the  plain  facts  of  history,  and  are  suscepti- 
ble of  proof.  Without  wishing  to  detract  from 
the  merits  of  any  other  troops  who  fought  on. 
that  sanguinary  field,  it  is  due  to  those  who  are 
entitled  to  this  great  honor  that  it  should  be  ac- 
corded to  them.  And  our  Division  commander, 
General  A.  J.  Smith,  could  have  conferred  no 
greater  compliment  on  the  Seventy-Seventh  than 
he  did  when 'he  placed  Colonel  Grier  and  his 
Regiment  in  charge  of  the  captured  works. 

The  following  extract  from  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel Webb's  account  of  the  battle  is  interesting: 

"  My  fellow  officers  and  the  men  behaved 
splendidly,  and  I  feel  an  immense  amount  of 
pride  in  both.  Quite  a  number  of  bur  officers 
were  sick;  among  them  Captains  Rouse,  White 
and  Keedy,  and  regret  the  fact  that  they  could 
not  participate  in  the  fight.  Colonel  Grier,  by 
his  coolness  and  courage,  sustained  and  added  to 
his  previously  well-earned  reputation.  Major 
Hotchkiss  knew  no  fear  of  any  kind,  and  Adju- 
tant Woodruff  was  at  his  post  from  the  com- 
mencement to  the  close,  as  brave  as  the  bravest. 
Our  Captains  and  Lieutenants  all  behaved  admir- 
ably. 

"  When  the  white  flag  went  up,  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  went  down  the  ditch  and  over  into  the 


118  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

fortifications  with  a  rush.  We  claim  to  have 
been  the  first  Regiment  that  entered  the  fort, 
and  the  first  to  raise  our  flag  over  the  captured 
works.  Gen.  Smith,  by  order  of  Gen.  Morgan, 
at  once  acknowledged  our  services  by  placing 
Colonel.  Grier  in  command  of  the  rebel  works, 
and  in  charge  of  the  prisoners. 

"  The  capture  of  Fort  Hindman  reflects  much 
credit  upon  General  McClernand.  The  plan  of 
attack  was  made  with  skill  and  sense.  In  fact, 
from  the  the  time  Gen.  McClernand  took  com- 
mand of  the  expedition,  it  has  been  managed 
with  secresy  and  judgment.  The  rebels  were 
wholly  deceived  in  our  strength,  and  I  know 
from  the  dispatches  of  couriers,  which  I  myself 
picked  up  in  Gen.  Churchill's  headquarters,  that 
they  were  bewildered  by  our  movements  and  did 
not  know  our  destination  until  we  arrived  below 
their  works  and  commenced  investing  them. 
The  investment  was  complete.  There  could 
have  been  no  escape.  Our  loss  will  not  exceed 
five  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  vic- 
tory is  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  gratifying 
of  the  war." 

The  fort  surrendered  at  5  o'clock  p.  M.  The 
victory  was  complete.  The  entire  loss  in  our 
Brigade  —  consisting  of  six  regiments  —  was 
nine  killed  and  seventy-six  wounded.  Of  these, 
the  Seventy-Seventh  lost  six  killed  and  thirty- 
nine  wounded,  or  more  than  one-half.  The  fol- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  119 

lowing  is  a  complete  list  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  Seventy-Seventh  at  the  battle  of 
Arkansas  Post,  January  11,  1863,  as  officially 
reported  by  companies : 

"A."  Wounded  —  Privates  John  Anderson,  Henry  D.  Hes- 
ter, Cyrus  A.  Kroessen,  Lester  T.  Stone,  John  Tomp- 
kins  (mortally),  Daniel  B.  Trench  (mortally),  A.  D. 
Witherell. 

"  B."  Killed  —  Captain  Robert  Irvvin. 

Wounded  —  Privates  James  Malone,  Lewis  E.  Simp- 
son, Edward  Swargy  (mortally). 

"  C."  Wounded — Sergeant  John  S.  Hornbaker,  color  bearer. 
Privates  Samuel  T.  Acres,  Joseph  T.  Sims. 

"  D."  Wounded  —  Privates  Thomas  Davis,  Daniel  Fowler, 
Frederick  Kraft. 

"E."  Killed— Private  John  H.  Mclntyre. 

Wounded  —  Corporal  R.    McKee  Davis,  Private  Ed- 
ward H.  Laughlin  (mortally). 

"P."  Wounded  —  First  Lieutenant  William  O.  Hammers. 
Privates  Thomas  J.  Ewing,  Nelson  E.  Johnson, 
Hosea  Johnson,  James  M.  West. 

"  G."  Killed  —  Private  Eleazer  Darnell. 

Wounded  —  Corporal    Hugh   Smart    (mortally).    Pri- 
vates Francis  O.  Dimmick,  Joseph  D.  Ensley. 

"H."  Wounded  —  Corporal  David  Filger.  Privates  Edward 
L.  Sutton  (mortally),  Joseph  Standaker  (mortally). 

"  I."     Wounded — Private  William  H.  Bentley. 

"K."  Killed — Privates  Joseph  M.  King,  Peter  Nelson. 

Wounded  —  Privates  Jacob  Lafollett,  William  Thorp, 
John  Ibeck,  Samuel  Kirkmau,  Robert  Thompson. 

On  the  day  succeeding  the  battle  Gen.  McCler- 
nand  issued  the  following  congratulatory  order 
to  the  troops.  It  sounds  a  good  deal  like  Na- 
poleon : 


120  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  ) 
POST  or  ARKANSAS,  January  12.         j 

<i<-neral  Field  Orders,  No.  7- 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI:  —  I 
congratulate  you.  Within  seven  days  you  have 
sailed  two  hundred  and  sixty  miles  from  Vicks- 
burg  to  this  Post,  borne  upon  numerous  trans- 
ports, from  time  to  time  furnished  with  fuel  cut 
by' you  from  the  forest.  With  ranks  thinned  by 
former  battles  and  disease,  you  have  waded  and 
cut  your  way  through  miles  of  swamps  and 
timber  in  advancing  to  the  attack.  You  have 
stormed  the  defences  of  the  enemy's  position, 
which  both  nature  and  art  had  combined  to 
render  extraordinarily  strong,  capturing  after 
three  and  a  half  hours  hard  fighting,  the  whole 
of  the  hostile  force  opposed  to  you,  numbering 
seven  thousand  men,  together  with  eight 
thousand  stand  of  arms,  twenty  cannon,  and  a 
large  amount  of  commissary,  quartermaster  and 
ordnance  stores. 

A  success  so  complete  in  itself  has  not  hitherto 
been  achieved  during  the  war.  It  is  an  impor- 
tant step  towards  the  restoration  of  our  national 
jurisdiction  and  unity  ever  the  territory  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Mississippi.  It  reflects  honor 
on  your  courage  and  patriotism.  It  will  chal- 
lenge the  grateful  acclaims  of  your  country. 
Your  and  my  only  regret  is  the  loss  of  the  brave 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  121 

men  who  have  fallen  or  been  wounded  in  defence 
of  a  sacred  cause.  All  honor  to  them.  Their 
names  and  memories  will  be  cherished  in  the 
hearts  of  their  countrymen. 

Soldiers !  Let  this  triumph  be  the  precurser 
of  still  more  important  achievements.  Win  for 
the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  imperishable  re- 
nown. Surmount  all  obstacles,  and  relying  on 
the  God  of  battles,  wrest  from  destiny  and  dan- 
ger, the  still  more  expressive  acknowledgements 
of  your  unconquerable  constancy  and  valor. 

MAJ.  GEN.  JOHN  A.  MCCLERNAND, 

Commandiny  Army  of  the  Misxissijtjn. 
Official:  J.  H.  HAMMOND. 

W.  J.  Landram,  Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth 
Kentucky,  who  commanded  our  brigade  at  this 
time,  sent  the  following  communication  to  Adju- 
tant General  Fuller  of  the  State  of  Illinois  : 

HEADQUARTERS,  2o  BRIGADE,  IST  DIVISION, 
IST  ARMY  CORPS,  ARMY  OF  THE  Miss., 

POST  ARKANSAS,  Jan.  14,  1863. 
COL.  FULLER, 

Adjutant  General  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 

SIR  : — Having  had  the  honor  to  com- 
mand, among  others,  four  regiments  of  infantry 
from  the  State  of  Illinois  during  the  recent  en- 
gagements before  Vicksburg  and  at  Post  Arkan- 
sas, I  have  deemed  it  proper,  in  addition  to  my 
official  report,  to  forward  directly  to  you  a  brief 


122  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

notice  of  the  conduct  of  the  troops  representing 
your  State  in  those  actions. 

At  Yicksburg,  as  well  as  during  the  engage- 
ment at  this  Post,  the  men  behaved  with  the 
most  commendable  coolness  and  courage. 

Both  officers  and  men  deserve  the  highest 
praise  for  their  conduct,  and  the  States  of  Illinois, 
Ohio  and  Kentucky,  have  reason  to  be  proud  of 
their  gallant  sons  who  fought  in  those  sanguinary 
conflicts.  The  capture  of  this  Post,  together 
with  seven  thousand  prisoners,  including  General 
Churchill  and  staff,  eight  thousand  stand  of  arms, 
twenty  cannon,  and  a  large  amount  of  subsist- 
ance  and  ordnance  stores,  is  a  just  cause  of  pride 
to  the  States  furnishing  the  troops  who  won  the 
victory,  as  well  as  to  the  nation  at  large. 

It  is  with  pride  that  I  mention  the  names  of 
Col.  John  Warner  of  the  108th,  Col.  D.  P.  Grier 
of  the  77th,  Col.  F.  S.  Rutherford  of  the  97th, 
and  Col.  R.  A.  Peters  of  the  131st  Illinois  Regi- 
ments, the  three  first  named  of  which  regiments 
participated  in  the  action;  the  latter  being  de- 
tailed to  repair  the  roads  to  the  rear. 

When  ordered  to  advance  upon  the  enemy's 
works,  it  was  done  with  a  cheer,  and  none  re- 
turned from  the  field,  save  the  wounded,  until 
victory  perched  upon  their  banners. 

I  can  especially  commend  for  gallantry  Colo- 
nels Grier,  Warner  and  Rutherford,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Colonels  Webb,  Turner  and  Marty n, 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  123 

Majors  Hotchkiss  and  Sidwell,  and  C.  C.  Tracy, 
temporary  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  108th  and  97th  was 
not  very  great  considering  the  destructive  tire  of 
the  enemy's  artillery  and  infantry.  The  chief 
loss  was  in  that  of  the  77th  (Col.  Grier),  the 
killed  and  wounded  in  that  Regiment  number- 
ing forty-five  men,  Captain  Robert  Irwin  being 
dangerously  wounded  in  the  leg. 

The  State  of  Illinois  can  boast  of  no  braver  or 
better  men  than  these,  and  while  their  praises 
are  going  forth  on  the  wings  of  the  morning,  let 
the  remembrance  of  those  who  fell,  nobly  up- 
holding the  banner  of  their  country,  cause  bless- 
ings to  descend,  like  the  dews  of  heaven,  upon 
the  widows  and  orphans  whose  tears  are  soon  to 
moisten  the  graves  of  the  loved  and  lost. 

A  list  of  the  casualities  accompanies  my  offi- 
cial report.  Very  re8pectfully,  etc., 

W.  J.  LANDRAM, 

Col.  19th  Ken.,  commanding  Brigade. 

Having  fought  and  won  the  battle,  the  next 
thing  in  order  was  to  secure  the  fruits  of  the 
victory.  This  was  done  by  securing  the  arms 
and  munitions  of  war  which  fell  into  our  hands, 
by  sending  the  prisoners  north  for  safe-keeping, 
and  destroying  the  works,  so  that  they  could  be 
of  no  further  use  to  the  rebels.  After  this  was 
done  the  army  went  back  to  their  old  quarters 


124  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

on  the  fleet,  and  turned  their  faces  down  the 
river.  On  the  22d  of  January  we  landed  at 
Young's  Point,  in  the  State  of  Louisiana,  a 
short  distance  above,  and  in  full  view  of,  the 
rebel  stronghold  —  Vicksburg.  Our  encamp- 
ment was  in  a  beautiful  mudhole  just  inside  the 
levee,  protected  from  the  rising  waters  of  the 
Mississippi  by  that  expensive  but  necessary  work 
of  art.  Companies  "  A  "  and  "  I "  were  detailed 
as  provost  guards,  and  in  that  capacity  it  was 
their  duty  to  search  all  departing  steamers  to 
prevent  their  carrying  away  contraband  articles, 
such  as  clothing,  arms,  cotton,  etc.  They  per- 
formed their  duties  to  their  own  satisfaction,  if 
not  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  And  it 
is  said  that  many  a  suit  of  blue  was  worn  by  our 
boys  without  money  and  without  price. 

Soon  after  we  landed  at  Young's  Point,  Gen. 
Grant  made  his  appearance  among  us  and  as- 
sumed command,  bringing  with  him  all  the 
forces  with  which  he  had  been  operating  in 
Northern  Mississippi.  With  these  forces  at  his 
command,  Gen.  Grant  began  his  work  for  the 
reduction  of  Vicksburg.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  Gen.  Williams  had,  the  previous  year,  com- 
menced the  work  of  digging  a  canal  across  the 
peninsula  opposite  the  city,  for  the  purpose  of 
turning  the  course  of  the  river.  The  project, 
however,  had  been  abandoned  as  impracticable. 
Gen.  Grant  now  proposed  to  complete  this  canal, 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  125 

divert  the  channel  of  the  river,  and  run  the 
transports  and  gunboats  below  the  rebel  works, 
in  order  to  turn  their  position.  Day  after  day 
heavy  details  were  made  from  the  army  to  pros- 
ecute the  work  on  the  canal,  and  day  after  day 
the  hope  of  final  and  complete  success  cheered 
the  men  in  their  labors.  But  these  hopes  were 
doomed  to  bitter  disappointment.  Notwith- 
standing all  the  efforts  that  were  made,  and  all 
the  labor  expended,  the  heavy  rains  and  the 
rapid  rise  of  the  river  interfered  to  such  an  ex- 
tent, that  the  whole  project  was  finally  aban- 
doned. 

While  encamped  at  Young's  Point  we  endured 
a  great  deal  of  sickness,  but  perhaps  by  some,  the 
mortality  would  not  be  considered  very  great  for 
so  large  an  army,  considering  the  climate  we 
were  in  and  the  wet  weather  we  had  to  endure. 
But  to  those  of  us  who  had  so  recently  left 
home,  it  was  truly  appalling.  Almost  every  day 
one  or  more  of  our  regimental  companions  was 
carried  to  his  long  home  in  the  levee.  And  as 
we  laid  our  comrade  away,  and  rendered  the  last 
sad  honors  at  his  grave,  we  knew  not  whose  turn 
would  come  next.  Those  were  days  of  darkness 
and  sorrow — of  gloom  and  despondency,  and  all 
who  survived  the  horrors  of  that  dismal  camp 
can  look  back  upon  scenes  of  suffering  such  as 
they  never  witnessed  before. 

This  alarming  sickness  may  be   attributed  to 


126  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

change  of  climate,  exposure,  impure  water,  etc. 
But  whatever  the  cause,  our  effective  strength 
was  very  much  reduced.  In  illustration  of  this, 
a  few  facts  and  figures  are  here  given.  The 
morning  reports  of  January  23d,  1863,  showed  a 
total  in  the  Regiment  of  eight  hundred  and  forty- 
two  men.  Of  these,  352  were  present  for  duty, 
23  on  special  duty,  18  on  detached  service,  2 
under  arrest,  12  absent  without  leave,  195  present 
sick,  and  240  absent  sick.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  we  had  four  hundred  and  thirty-fine  on  the 
sick  list,  or  more  than  one-half  the  entire  Regi- 
ment. There  were  only  ten  commissioned  offi- 
cers fit  for  duty.  Company  "  G,"  with  a  total 
strength  of  eighty-two  men,  had  two  corporals, 
one  musician  and  sixteen  privates  for  duty. 
Company  "  E,"  with  seventy-eight  men,  had  one 
lieutenant,  two  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one 
wagoner  and  fifteen  privates.  This  will  serve 
to  show  something  of  the  wear  and  tear  of  war. 
On  the  24th  of  January  the  Regiment  said  "  fare- 
well "  to  the  "  Duke  of  Argyle,"  which  had  been 
their  home  for  more  than  a  month,  and  then  the 
general  health  began  to  improve. 

Let  us  now  pay  a  visit  to  the  hospital  and  see 
what  is  transpiring  there.  A  regimental  hos- 
pital is  one  of  the  institutions  of  the  army,  and 
the  surgeon  is  an  important  character  and  enjoys 
a  large  practice.  Every  morning,  say  at  7 
o'clock,  the  surgeon's  call  is  sounded,  and  pres- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  127 

ently  we  see  groups  of  men  in  charge  of  their 
respective  sergeants,  issuing  from  the  different 
company  quarters,  and  wending  their  way  to  the 
hospital  to  "draw"  their  daily  rations  of  qui- 
nine. This  is  the  great  remedy  —  the  universal 
panacea  for  all  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to  in  the 
army,  and  consequently  a  good  supply  is  kept 
constantly  on  hand.  A  scene  something  like 
this  takes  place  every  morning.  Each  man  that 
comes,  either  for  relief  or  to  be  excused  from 
duty,  puts  on  a  face  as  long  as  a  fence  rail,  and 
answers  all  questions  put  to  him  with  an  appro- 
priate whine,  whether  he  is  sick  or  not  —  but 
hold,  we  must  take  that  back,  for  it  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  any  one  goes  to  the  hospital  unless 
he  is  sick,  or,  in  other  words,  that  he  is  guilty  of 
what  the  docters  call  "playing  off" 

Company  "A"  is  called.  Number  one  steps 
up  with  as  much  alacrity  as  his  complicated  dis- 
eases will  admit  of,  and  the  following  conversa- 
tion takes  place : 

Doctor — "Well,  John,  what's  the  matter  with 
you,  this  morning?" 

John  —  "Why,  doctor,  I've  got  the  di-ar-w." 

Doc-tor  —  "Steward,  give  John  two  pills  —  take 

one  now  and  the  other  before  you  go  to  bed. 

Who's  next?     Jake,  what  ails  you1?" 

Jake  —  "  Well,  doctor,  you'll  have  to  tell  that." 

Doctor  —  "  Steward,  give  Jake  two  pills  —  take 


128  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

one  now  and  the  other  before  you  go  to  bed. 
Next?  Well,  Dick,  what's  your  disease?" 

Dick  — "  Why,  doctor,  I  was  in  the  tight  at  the 
Post,  and  one  of  the  Johnnies  shot  a  hole  through 
my  sleeve,  and  my  arm  happened  to  be  in  it." 

Doctor — Have  you  the  diarrhoea?" 

Dick— "No,  sir." 

Doctor — "  Have  you  any  headache  or  pains  in 
the  stomach  ?  " 

Dick  —  "No,  sir." 

Doctor — "Steward,  give  Dick  two  pills  —  take 
one  now  and  the  other  before  you  go  to  bed,  and 
you'll  be  all  right  in  the  morning." 

And  so  it  goes.  You  might  almost  say  that  a 
sick  man  in  the  hospital  has  quinine  for  break- 
fast, dinner  and  supper,  and  the  result  is  not 
always  beneficial. 

On  the  7th  of  March,  the  paymaster  put  in  an 
appearance,  and  made  our  hearts  glad  and  our 
pockets  flush  by  the  distribution  of  "  greenbax/' 
This  was  the  first  payment  we  had  received  since 
leaving  Peoria.  We  were  paid  up  to  October  81, 
1862.  Each  private  soldier  received  about 
twenty  dollars — not  much,  to  be  sure,  but  very 
welcome.  As  Uncle  Sam's  liabilities  were 
greater  than  his  resources  at  that  time,  we  put 
up  with  what  we  could  get  without  grumbling. 

On  the  9th,  the  regiment,  or  most  of  it, 
embarked  on  the  steamer  "  Hiawatha  "  for  Milli- 
ken's  Bend,  about  twenty  miles  up  the  river, 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  129 

leaving  Company  "  I "  doing  provost  duty  on 
the  "  Sunny  South "  at  Young's  Point,  while 
Company  "A"  did  duty  in  the  Chief  Quarter- 
master's Department,  13th  Army  Corps,  at  Milli- 
ken's  Bend.  Our  encampment  here  was  much 
better  than  the  one  we  had  just  left.  While  at 
this  place  the  army  was  variously  occupied  — 
partly  by  digging  canals,  partly  by  seeking  an 
outlet  for  the  fleet  by  the  way  of  Lake  Provi- 
dence into  Red  River,  and  again  by  trying  to  find 
a  passage  through  the  Coldwater  into  the  Yazoo 
above  Haines'  Bluft'.  All  of  these  attempts  hav- 
ing proved  abortive,  Gen.  Grant  determined  on 
the  daring  and  dangerous  expedient  of  running 
a  part  of  the  fleet  past  the  batteries  §,t  Vicks- 
burg,  and  marching  his  army  through  Louisiana, 
to  some  point  below,  and  there  crossing,  thus 
getting  a  foothold  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  operating  from  that  direction.  The  great 
object  in  view,  in  all  these  movements,  was  the 
capture  of  Vicksburg. 

On  the  5th  of  April  —  Easter  Sunday  —  the 
paymaster  made  another  visit  to  our  camp,  and 
made  us  glad  with  four  months'  pay — fifty -two 
dollars.  As  Messrs.  Hansel  and  Doup  of  Peoria, 
had  just  come  down  with  a  large  supply  of  sani- 
tary stores  for  our  sick  comrades,  we  embraced 
the  opportunity  of  sending  the  funds  north  for 
the  benefit  of  our  families.  Those  gentlemen 


130  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

took  with  them  about  forty  thousand  dollars 
from  the  Seventy-Seventh. 

On  the  7th  we  began  to  see  indications  of  a 
forward  movement,  for  on  that  day  our  division 
was  inspected  by  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  and  on  the 
next  day  the  13th  Army  Corps,  by  Gen.  McCler- 
nand.  On  the  9th  we  had  a  grand  review, 
Major  General  U.  S.  Grant,  presiding.  By  this 
time  we  knew  that  these  reviews  meant  active 
service,  and  we  hailed  the  prospect  of  an  advance 
as  a  harbinger  of  deliverance  from  our  monot- 
onous camp  inside  the  levee.  We  began  to 
think  that  before  long  we  would  conquer,  or  be 
conquered,  on  the  other  side  of  Vicksburg. 

Before  leaving  Milliken's  Bend,  let  us  insert 
this  flattering  communication  addressed  to  Com- 
pany "  A,"  doing  guard  duty  at  the  headquarters 
of  the  13th  Army  Corps  : 

HEADQUARTERS  CHIEF  Q.  M.  OFFICE,  | 

13TH  A.  C.,  MILLIKEN'S  BEND,  LA.,  }• 

March  21,  1863.  j 

Officers  and  members  of  Co.  "  A,"  77th  111.   Vol.  Inf. 

GENTLEMEN  :  It  is  with  regret  I  am 
informed  by  your  Commanding  General  that 
general  orders  prohibit  your  longer  remaining 
on  duty  as  our  guard.  It  is  our  duty,  therefore, 
to  respectfully  acquiesce,  and  we  must  part.  In 
doing  so,  however,  it  affords  me  much  pleasure 
to  express  to  you  my  appreciation  of  the  highly 
satisfactory  manner  in  which  you  have  dis- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  131 

charged  your  duties,  at  times  arduous.  Not  a 
single  complaint  has  reached  me  during  your  ser- 
vice here,  of  excess  or  overt  act  committed,  or  re- 
laxation of  vigilance  and  integrity  in  the  care 
of  public  property  committed  to  your  charge;  and 
in  parting,  gentlemen,  I  have  only  to  say,  con- 
tinue thus  to  discharge  any  and  every  duty 
devolving  upon  you  and  you  will  have  won  for 
yourselves  a  name  that,  having  belonged  to 
Company  "A,"  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  will  be  a  sufficient  recommenda- 
tion to  secure  to  you  any  position  you  may  de- 
sire. I  am  also  pleased  to  inform  you  that  your 
Commanding  General  has  been  duly  informed  of 
your  meritorious  conduct,  and  fully  appreciates, 
and  will,  in  due  time,  I  have  no  doubt,  fully 
reward  it.  I  have  the  honor  to  remain 
Very  respectfully  yours, 

JAMES  DUNLAP, 

Lieut.  Col.  and  A.  Q.  M.,  13th  Army  Corps. 


CHAPTER  THE  FIFTH. 

ON    TO    VICKSBURG. 

length,  after  months  of  fruitless  ditch- 
digging  and  dredging,  the  army  was  put 
in  motion,  the  13th  Army  Corps  taking 
the  advance,  about  the  middle  of  April.  The 
army,  anxious  for  active  operations  to  commence, 
hailed  the  order  to  advance  with  gladness.  Some 
idea  of  the  magnitude  of  that  advance,  may  be 
gathered  when  it  is  stated  that  roads  had  to  be 
constructed,  bridges  had  to  be  built  across  the 
numerous  bayous  that  crossed  the  line  of  march; 
commissary  and  ordnance  stores  for  a  large  army 
had  to  be  transported  on  wagons,  and  the  army 
itself  had  to  endure  long  and  weary  marches 
through  mud  and  rain.  It  was  a  gigantic  under- 
taking, but  with  sublime  faith  in  the  final  result, 
the  army  pressed  on  without  a  murmur. 

As  the  troops  marched  across  the  peninsula, 
from  Milliken's  Bend  to  New  Carthage,  they 
could  distinctly  hear  the  thunder  of  the  guns  at 
Vicksburg,  as  Commodore  Porter  with  his  gun- 
boats and  a  number  of  transports,  ran  past  the 
batteries.  This  daring  enterprise  was  success- 
fully accomplished  with  comparatively  small  loss. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  133 

During  this  march  the  13th  Array  Corps  built 
about  two  thousand  feet  of  bridges,  besides  con- 
structing a  passable  wagon  road  nearly  the  whole 
distance,  thus  making  the  transportation  of  sup- 
plies a  possibility.  Along  the  beautiful  lake, 
St.  Joseph,  we  passed  many  fine  residences,  one 
of  the  most  prominent  being  that  of  Dr.  JBowie. 
The  grounds  were  beautiful,  and  the  house  was 
richly  furnished.  The  walls  were  adorned  with 
fine  mirrors  and  engravings  handsomely  framed, 
while  a  costly  piano  and  a  large  library  of  choice 
books,  were  seen  in  one  of  the  rooms.  But  this 
magnificent  home  endured  but  a  short  time.  The 
house  was  burned  to  the  ground  soon  after  we 
passed.  It  was  amusing  to  see  the  darkies  along 
the  route.  They  seemed  to  think  the  "year  of 
jubilee"  had  come,  and  one  of  them  said,  "Why 
Lor'  bress  you,  massa,  whar  you  all  come  from  ? 
I  didn't  tink  dar  was  so  many  folks  in  de  norf. 
Why,  here  you  been  comin'  dis  two,  tree  weeks, 
and  you  haiut  all  got  here  yet.  Massa  said  you 
had  horns  and  tails,  but  I  know'd  better." 

After  the  glorious  achievements  of  the  navy 
in  passing  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  Geji.  Grant 
extended  his  lines  to  a  small  place  on  the 
Louisiana  shore,  called  Hard  Times,  making  the 
distance  from  the  base  of  supplies  at  Milliken's 
Bend,  about  seventy  miles.  It  was  the  intention 
for  the  gunboats  to  engage  the  batteries  at  Grand 
Gulf,  and  silence  them  if  possible,  after  which 


134  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

the  infantry  could  carry  the  works  by  assault. 
It  was  found,  however,  that  the  works  were 
more  formidable  than  was  anticipated,  and  after 
a  heavy  bombardment  of  several  hours,  the  gun- 
boats withdrew,  having  failed  to  accomplish  the 
object  intended.  It  now  became  necessary  to 
change  the  plan  of  operations.  Accordingly  at 
dark,  on  April  29th,  Admiral  Porter  again  en- 
gaged the  enemy's  works,  and  under  cover  of 
the  tire  and  the  darkness,  the  fleet  of  transports 
passed  the  batteries  without  material  damage. 
On  the  next  day  the  13th  Army  Corps  was  trans- 
ported to  the  other  side  of  the  river*,  at  Bruins- 
burg,  and  immediately  moved  in  the  direction  of 
Port  Gibson. 

The  troops  began  the  march  at  three  o'cock 
in  the  afternoon,  and  continued  until  two  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  when  they  met  a  body  of  the 
enemy,  who  disputed  their  further  advance.  In 
the  morning  Gen.  McClernand  reconnoitered  the 
position.  The  rebel  commander  at  Grand  Gulf, 
watching  our  movements,  had  hurried  forward 
with  a  large  body  of  troops,  and  formed  them  in 
the  ravins  with  heavy  timber  and  canebrakes 
on  the  flanks.  Gen.  McClernand  deployed  his 
men  and  attacked  the  enemy.  A  battery  placed 
upon  a  hill  was  annoying  us,  and  two  regiments 
were  ordered  to  take  it.  They  advanced  across 
the  hill  without  flinching,  drove  the  enemy 
from  their  position  and  captured  the  guns. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  135 

The  rebels  had  stationed  a  battery  near  Mag- 
nolia Church,  and  here  a  furious  fight  was  main- 
tained for  some  time,  and  at  this  point  many 
federal  soldiers  were  killed  or  wounded.  The 
rebels  were  driven  from  their  position,  and  estab- 
lished a  new  line  of  battle  on  a  circle  of  hills  not 
far  distant.  The  attack  on  this  line  was  made 
by  the  artillery  on  the  rebel  centre,  resting  on 
the  road  leading  to  Port  Gibson.  Shortly  after- 
wards, the  skirmishers  advanced  and  very  soon 
the  engagement  became  general.  After  heavy 
tiring  the  enemy  was  driven  back,  and  he  then 
massed  his  forces  on  our  right,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  turning  our  flank.  But  our  reserves 
were  brought  up  in  time  to  prevent  this  move- 
ment. His  next  move  was  to  our  left,  where  he 
made  a  determined  stand,  gaining  several  im- 
portant positions,  from  which  it  was  some  hours 
before  we  could  dislodge  him.  On  our  left  they 
held  a  position  protected  by  an  almost  impene- 
trable canebrake,  and  protected  on  the  flanks  by 
deep  ravines. 

For  several  hours  we  attempted  to  drive  them 
from  this  position,  but  in  vain.  It  was  impossi- 
ble to  penetrate  that  dense  thicket  of  canes.  The 
enemy's  deadly  missiles  came  into  our  ranks 
with  fatal  effect.  At  length  reinforcements  were 
called  for,  and  a  brigade  of  the  17th  Army  Corps 
advanced  rapidly  along  the  road  leading  to 
Grand  Gulf.  They  were  soon  formed  in  line  of 


136  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

battle,  and  with  fixed  bayonets  they  charged  the 
enemy's  position,  working  their  way  through 
the  young  cane  on  their  hands  and  knees.  In 
this  brilliant  charge  many  of  the  rebels  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  taken  prisoners.  Our  batteries  finished  the 
work,  and  the  position  and  the  guns  were  cap- 
tured. 

Beaten  at  every  point,  with  a  loss  of  over  a 
thousand  men,  the  enemy  left  the  field  and  re- 
treated rapidly  to  Port  Gibson,  harrassed  in  his 
fiight  by  our  victorious  troops.  When  near  the 
town  they  blew  up  a  caisson  filled  with  shot, 
shell  and  powder.  As  night  came  on,  the  order 
was  given  to  cease  pursuit,  and  we  rested  on  the 
battle  field. 

The  day  succeeding  the  battle,  the  13th  Army 
Corps  entered  Port  Gibson  in  triumph,  the  en- 
emy having  hastily  fled,  burning  the  bridge 
across  the  Bayou  Pierre,  in  order  if  possible,  to 
arrest  our  pursuit  of  the  flying  fugitives.  It  was 
therefore  necessary  for  us  to  remain  sometime  in 
the  village,  until  a  pontoon  bridge  could  be  con- 
structed. This  object  having  been  accomplished, 
the  army  moved  forward  a  few  miles  to  a  place 
called  Willow  Springs. '  Here  a  small  body  of 
rebels  attempted  to  dispute  our  passage,  but  they 
were  soon  dispersed. 

Governor  Yates,  who  was  at  that  time  with 
the  army,  and  who  participated  in  these  victori- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  137 

ous  scenes,  telegraphed  to  Springfield,  Illinois, 
as  follows : 

GRAND  GULF,  Miss.,  May  3, 1863. 

We  gained  a  glorious  victory  at  Port  Gibson 
on  the  first  instant. 

The  enemy  are  in  full  retreat.  Our  forces  are 
in  close  pursuit.  The  Illinois  troops,  as  usual, 
behaved  with  the  greatest  gallantry.  The  loss 
on  our  side  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and 
five  hundred  wounded. 

We  have  taken  one  thousand  prisoners.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded  is  much 

greater  than  ours.  ^ 

RICHARD  YATES. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  General  Grant  had 
completely  flanked  Grand  Gulf  by  his  operations 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Port  Gibson,  that  posi- 
tion became  untenable  to  the  rebels,  and  was 
evacuated  by  them.  As  soon  as  this  was  ascer- 
tained, General  Grant  made  arrangements  for 
changing  his  base  of  supplies  from  Bruinsburg 
to  Grand  Gulf. 

Soldiers  will  have  their  fun  under  the  most 
adverse  circumstances.  Even  in  the  heat  of 
battle,  while  their  comrades  are  falling  around 
them,  they  will  sometimes  enjoy  their  seasons  of 
merriment.  The  battle  of  Port  Gibson  was  no 
exception  to  this  rule,  and  when  the  sound  of 
the  distant  guns  fell  upon  their  ears  you  could 
hear  such  exclamations  as  these  :  "  Lay  down," 


138  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

"Here's  your  mule,"  "Grab  a  root,"  "All  quiet 
on  the  Youza,"  etc.  Well,  let  them  enjoy  them- 
selves. Their  life  is  a  hard  one  at  the  best. 

We  had  thus,  after  a  brief  campaign,  eflected 
important  results  in  the  State  of  Mississippi,  but 
in  order  to  secure  the  fruit  of  these  results,  it 
was  necessary  that  we  should  follow  up  rapidly, 
the  advantages  already  gained.  Accordingly  we 
were  not  permitted  to  remain  in  camp,  idling 
away  our  time  in  useless  rejoicings.  We  were 
soon  in  motion  again. 

We  were  now  operating  in  a  rough  and  rug- 
ged country.  We  had  left  the  low,  flat  and 
swampy  lands  of  Louisiana  far  behind  us.  New 
objects  of  interest  presented  themselves  as  we 
passed  along.  We  saw  the  splendid  mansions 
which,  in  other  years,  had  sheltered  the  rich, 
aristocratic  proprietors  of  the  soil.  Many  of 
these  residences  were  destined  soon  to  be  com- 
mitted to  the  flames.  An  advancing  and  victo- 
rious army  is  not  very  conscientious,  and  it  is 
but  reasonable  to  suppose  that  some  depredations 
were  committed,  especially  as  we  were  on  short 
rations.  Sometimes  when  we  were  reduced  to 
one  cracker  to  the  man,  and  nothing  else  in 
view,  we  were  under  the  necessity  of  taking  up 
the  mournful  refrain  : 

"  Lord,  what  a  wretched  land  is  this, 
That^yields  us  no  supply," 

and  would  have  gladly  sold  our  precarious  birth- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  139 

right  for  a  mess  of  pottage  or  a  pot  of  mush,  but 
as  a  general  thing,  we  succeeded  in  securing  the 
necessaries  of  life. 

Pursuing  the  march  we  passed  Rocky  Springs, 
Cuyahoga  and  Auburn,  and  on  the  night  of  May 
15th,  at  10  o'clock,  we  found  our  camping  ground 
near  the  ancient  looking  town  of  Raymond.  As 
we  passed  along,  the  dark  green  foilage  of  the 
Magnolia  waved  in  the  breeze,  as  if  to  welcome 
our  advent,  and  bid  us  God-speed  in  our  labo- 
rious campaign.  Although  fatigue  and  hunger 
and  thirst  sometimes  pressed  heavily  upon  us, 
there  were  no  complaints  among  the  men  com- 
posing that  army.  They  could  not  find  it  in 
their  hearts  to  complain  when  victory  perched 
upon  their  banners  at  every  step  of  their  progress. 

The  early  dawn  of  May  16,  1863,  aroused  us 
from  our  slumbers.  We  started  on  the  march  at 
sunrise,  and  at  8  o'clock  encountered  the  enemy 
at  Champion  Hills.  The  action  began  almost 
immediately,  and  before  long  the  battle  raged 
with  destructive  and  relentless  fury.  Gen.  A.  J. 
Smith's  division  —  the  one  to  which  the  77th  be- 
longed—  was  on  the  left,  and  on  the  right  of 
that  was  the  division  of  Gen.  Osterhaus.  Gen. 
Hovey  formed  the  centre,  while  Gen.  McPher- 
son's  corps — the  17th  —  occupied  the  right.  In 
rear  of  these  troops,  those  commanded  by  Gen- 
erals Blair,  Carr  and  Crocker  formed  the  reserve. 
The  skirmishers  became  engaged  early  in  the 


140  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

morning,  and  soon  the  contending  forces  met, 
and  a  desperate  struggle  ensued.  For  two  hours 
the  heavy  tire  of  our  batteries  welcomed  the 
rebel  ranks  in  the  depths  of  the  forest.  Having 
failed  to  turn  our  right,  which  was  at  first  at- 
tempted, the  enemy  turned  his  attention  to  the 
centre,  massing  his  forces  against  Hovey's  divi- 
sion. But  that  invincible  wall  of  brave  men 
quailed  not  before  the  murderous  fire.  True  as 
steel,  it  resisted  successfully  all  the  assaults 
hurled  against  it.  After  a  desperate  conflict  of 
four  hours'  duration  the  enemy  was  compelled 
to  retire. 

Our  troops,  without  waiting  to  reform  or  to 
count  the  cost,  fixed  their  bayonets  and  charged 
into  the  dense  forest  after  the  retreating  foe. 
The  rebels  were  seized  with  a  panic,  and  sought 
safety  in  flight.  In  this  charge  men  were  slaugh- 
tered without  mercy.  The  ground  was  covered 
with  the  dead  and  dying.  The  rebels  scattered 
in  every  direction  and  hurried  forward  to  join 
the  main  body  retreating  in  the  direction  of 
Vicksburg.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
the  battle  was  over  and  the  victory  won.  In 
this  battle  Lieutenant  Harkness,  of  Co.  "K," 
was  wounded  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell. 

Such  was  the  sixteenth  of  May,  and  such  was 
the  battle  of  Champion  Hills.  Night  closed 
over  another  field  of  blood.  Many  of  our  com- 
rades had  fallen  in  death,  or  were  enduring  the 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  141 

most  excruciating  torture  from  the  effects  of 
their  wounds.  We  had  gained  another  step  in 
the  right  direction  —  the  ultimate  consummation 
of  our  hopes  —  the  capture  of  Vicksburg.  Our 
entire  loss  on  that  day  was  429  killed,  1842 
wounded  and  189  missing.  But  we  had  no  time 
to  grieve  over  our  losses,  or  to  calculate  the 
profits. 

That  night  we  slept  on  our  arms  at  Champion 
Hills,  and  the  next  morning  the  march  was  re- 
sumed in  the  direction  of  Vicksburg,  in  pursuit 
of  the  demoralized  and  flying  foe.  The  retreat 
of  the  rebels  was  by  the  ford  and  bridge  of 
Baker's  Creek.  It  was  here  that  General  Tilgh- 
man,  one  of  their  ablest  officers,  was  killed  by  a 
piece  of  a  shell. 

Continuing  the  advance  with  great  rapidity, 
we  soon  came  in  front  of  their  works  on  the  Big 
Black.  The  river  at  the  railroad  crossing  forms 
a  horse-shoe  bend.  Across  the  peninsula  thus 
formed,  at  the  narrowest  part,  the  rebels  had 
constructed  a  line  of  rifle  pits,  making  a  good 
cover  for  their  infantry,  while  they  had  artillery 
planted  at  different  points  along  the  line.  These 
rifle  pits  extended  about  a  mile  north  and  south, 
and  were  encircled  by  a  bayou.  In  addition  to 
this,  they  had  batteries  planted  on  the  hill  be- 
yond the  river. 

Soon  after  the  battle  opened  General  Oster- 
haus  was  wounded.  Who  that  heard  his  com- 
mand on  that  day  can  ever  forget  it?  "  Git  em 


142  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

out  mit  de  bayonet — I'm  mit  you."  While  the 
battle  was  raging  furiously  in  front,  General 
Lawler,  with  his  brigade,  passed  around  to  the 
right,  and  finding  a  narrow  opening  through  the 
brush,  his  men  threw  away  their  blankets  and 
haversacks,  and  thus  unimpeded,  rushed  through 
the  bayou  in  face  of  a  murderous  fire,  and  sud- 
denly appeared  in  rear  of  the  enemy.  At  this 
unexpected  movement  the  rebels  were  seized 
with  a  panic  and  started  for  the  bridge  across 
the  river.  The  panic  was  infectious,  the  enemy 
on  the  bluffs  sharing  it  and  fleeing  from  their 
works.  They  burned  the  bridge  behind  them, 
thus  preventing  the  escape  of  many  of  their  own 
men,  who  were  taken  prisoners.  From  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  left  their  tents  standing,  and 
destroyed  their  provisions,  they  must  have 
thought  that  Father  Abraham  was  coming  with 
three  hundred  thousand  more. 

One  of  the  incidents  of  this  battle  was  the 
capture  of  a  Tennessee  regiment,  many  of  whom 
were  old  friends  and  neighbors  of  one  of  our 
own  men,  Dudley  Linville,  who  enlisted  in  Co. 
"C"  at  Richmond,  Ky.  Their  greetings  were 
not  as  cordial  as  they  might  have  been  under 
different  circumstances.  The  trophies  of  the  vic- 
tory were  eighteen  guns  and  seventeen  hundred 
prisoners,  besides  small  arms,  etc.  The  rebels 
retreated  rapidly  to  Vicksburg.  It  now  became 
necessary  to  construct  a  bridge  before  we  could 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  143 

cross.  This  was  accomplished  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  18th,  and  the  forward  movement  was 
resumed.  Up  to  this  time  we  had  advanced  rap- 
idly and  victoriously  through  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country,  penetrating  the  very  vitals  of 
the  so-called  "  Southern  Confederacy "  in  the 
southwest,  meeting  and  routing  the  enemy  on 
many  battle  fields,  and  compelling  him  to  pursue 
an  inglorious  retreat.  We  were  now  approaching 
the  prize  for  which  we  had  so  long  contended. 
We  were  isolated,  as  it  were,  from  the  rest  of  the 
world.  With  our  communications  closed  in  the 
rear,  and  a  formidable  foe  in  front,  to  all  human 
appearance  victory  or  annihilation  awaited  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

We  marched  steadily  forward,  exulting  over 
the  successes  of  the  preceding  days  and  looking 
forward  to  fresh  victories.  Such  a  thought  as 
failure  never  crossed  our  minds.  At  every  step 
we  saw  the  relics  of  a  panic-stricken  army,  in 
the  shape  of  arms  and  accoutrements,  camp  and 
garrison  equipage,  which  they  had  thrown  away. 
They  halted  not  in  their  disorganized  flight  un- 
til they  found  refuge  behind  their  frowning 
works  on  the  hills  at  Vicksburg.  We  now  felt 
confident  that  the  capture  of  their  stronghold 
was  only  a  question  of  time  and  cost.  If  they 
should  evacuate  their  works,  the  prize  was  ours 
without  a  struggle.  If  they  preferred  to  defend 
their  position,  we  could  probably  carry  the 


144  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

works  by  storm.  Failing  in  that,  we  could  re- 
duce the  place  by  the  slow  and  gradual  opera- 
tions of  a  siege.  We  encamped  at  night  about 
four  miles  in  rear  of  the  rebel  works,  and  waited 
with  anxious  impatience  for  the  contest  of  the 
morrow. 


6) 

•*%- 


CHAPTER  THE  SIXTH. 


V1CKSBURG. 

)HE  dawn  of  the  succeeding  day  brought 
with  it  the  usual  activity  of  the  campaign, 
and  early  in  the  morning  we  were  moving 
in  line  of  battle  against  the  huge  fortifications 
in  our  front.  Companies  "A"  and  "I"  were 
thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  and  soon  encoun- 
tered those  of  the  enemy,  who  fell  back  slowly, 
surely,  and  evidently  with  reluctance,  before 
our  victorious  lines.  At  length  we  succeeded  in 
driving  them  within  their  works,  and  then  en- 
sued a  scene  of  fearful  grandeur  and  sublimity  — 
a  scene  which  must  be  witnessed  to  be  realized. 
As  we  reached  the  brow  of  a  hill  some  six  or 
eight  hundred  yards  from  the  rebel  works,  a 
shower  of  shot  and  shell,  of  grape  and  cannister, 
greeted  us,  decimating  our  ranks  and  throwing 
our  lines  into  momentary  confusion.  The  men 
rushed  with  eager  haste  to  the  bottom  of  the 
ravine  beyond,  and  after  reforming  the  lines, 
advanced  to  the  top  of  the  succeeding  hill.  This 
position  was  maintained  during  the  afternoon, 


146  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

and  at  night  we  fell  back  to  the  ravine  and  went 
into  camp,  sleeping  on  our  arms. 

During  the  next  two  days  nothing  of  import- 
ance occurred.  The  sharp  rattle  of  musketry  on 
the  picket  line,  and  the  occasional  boom  of  artil- 
lery, alone  varied  the  monotony  of  camp-life. 
But  this  lull  in  the  storm  was  only  a  prelude  to 
a  fiercer  and  deadlier  strife.  We  could  not,  if 
we  would,  give  up  the  contest  at  this  stage  of  our 
operations.  Vicksburg  was  before  us  —  Vicks- 
burg,  with  its  ample  fortifications  and  frowning 
guns  — with  its  thousands  of  glittering  bayonets 
and  its  garrison,  the  fiower  of  the  rebel  army  in 
the  southwest.  The  prize  was  worth  contending 
for.  But  more  than  this,  the  eyes  of  the  world 
were  upon  us,  the  Government  was  looking  on 
with  intense  interest  and  hopes  of  ultimate  suc- 
cess. Each  man  felt  himself  a  hero,  upon  whom 
depended  more  or  less  responsibility  for  the 
success  or  failure  of  the  campaign. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  Gen.  Grant  sent  the  fol- 
lowing order  to  his  corps  commanders,  and  in 
order  to  insure  its  prompt  execution,  it  was  also 
communicated  to  the  commanders  of  divisions 
and  brigades : 

HEADQUARTERS  IN  THE  FIELD,  1 
May  21,  1863.      / 

GENERAL  :  —  A  simultaneous  attack  will  be 
made  to-morrow,  at  10  o'clock  A.M.,  by  all  the 
army  corps  of  this  army. 

During  this  day  army  corps  commanders  will 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  147 

have  examined  all  practical  routes  over  which 
troops  can  possibly  pass.  They  will  get  in  posi- 
tion all  the  artillery  possible,  and  gain  all  the 
ground  they  can  with  their  infantry  and  skir- 
mishers. 

At  an  early  hour  in  the  morning  a  vigorous 
attack  will  be  commenced  by  artillery  and  skir- 
mishers. The  infantry,  with  the  exception  of 
reserves  and  skirmishers,  will  be  placed  in 
column  of  platoons,  or  by  flank  if  the  ground 
over  which  they  may  have  to  pass,  will  not  admit 
of  a  greater  front,  ready  to  move  forward  at  the 
hour  designated.  Promptly  at  the  hour  designated, 
all  will  start  at  quick  time,  with  bayonets  fixed,  and 
march  immediately  upon  the  enemy,  without  firing  a 
gun,  until  the  outer  works  are  carried.  Skirmishers 
will  advance  as  soon  as  possible  after  heads  of 
column  pass  them,  and  scale  the  walls  of  such 
works  as  may  confront  them. 

By  order  of  U-.  S.  GRANT, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

The  stirring  events  of  those  days  were  so 
graphically  described  by  our  lamented  Lieut. 
Col.  Webb,  in  his  correspondence  to  the  Peoria 
Daily  Transcript,  that  no  apology  is  needed  for 
its  insertion  here : 

BEFORE  VICKSBURG, 

May  24,  1863. 

EDITOR  OF  THE  TRANSCRIPT:  —  It  is  with  a  sad 
and  heavy  heart  that  I  sit  down  to  write  you, 


148  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

and  through  you  to  the  friends  of  the  77th  Regi- 
ment, once  more.  The  enclosed  list  will  tell, 
more  eloquently  than  I  can  write  it,  the  gloomy 
tale  of  terrible  scenes  through  which  we  have 
been  called  upon  to  pass.  Since  our  regiment 
crossed  the  Mississippi  river  twenty-five  days  ago, 
we  have  been  in  action  five  times;  first  at  Mag- 
nolia Hills,  near  Port  Gibson ;  then  at  Champion 
Hills,  between  Raymond  and  Edwards  Depot; 
then  at  Black  River  Bridge;  then  in  advance 
upon  Vicksburg  six  days  ago,  and  lastly,  in  the 
grand  assault  of  the  22d.  Only  in  the  last  two 
affairs  did  we  suffer  any  loss  of  consequence,  and 
about  these  only  do  I  propose  to  write  you, 
although  the  other  battles,  in  their  importance 
to  the  country,  are  not  less  interesting,  but  I 
have  not  time  to  describe  the  part  we  took  in 
them. 

After  the  battle  of  Black  River  Bridge,  our 
divison  took  the  advance,  the  77th  at  the  head 
of  the  2d  brigade.  The  enemy  had  been  com- 
pletely routed,  and  had  made  a  hasty  retreat 
towards  Vicksburg,  either  abandoning  or  de- 
stroying everything  except  their  small  arms. 
The  prevailing  opinion  was,  that  they  were  so 
demoralized  by  successive  defeats,  that  they 
would  make  no  stand  in  Vicksburg,  but  would 
evacuate  via  Haines'  Bluff'  and  the  Yazoo  River. 
At  about  one  o'clock,  on  Monday  afternoon  last, 
our  skirmishers  came  up  with  those  of  the 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  149 

enemy,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  their  for- 
tifications in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.  None  of  us 
knew  anything  about  these  fortifications,  except 
through  the  commonly  accepted  opinion  that 
they  were  not  formidable,  and  could  be  easily 
carried  by  assault.  At  two  o'clock  our  lines  had 
been  formed.  The  order  was  to  advance  slowly 
until  our  artillery  opened,  and  then  move  on  the 
double  quick  into  the  enemy's  works  with  fixed 
bayonets.  These  orders,  and  this  movement, 
made  before  we  had  a  single  piece  of  artillery  in 
position  to  do  any  execution,  unless  it  were 
among  our  own  ranks,  demonstrate  not  only  the 
confidence  which  our  Generals  had  in  their 
ability  to  walk  almost  unmolested  into  Vicks- 
burg, but  their  entire  ignorance  of  the  character 
of  the  enemy's  fortifications  and  the  nature  of 
the  approaches  to  them. 

At  two  o'clock  then,  the  77th  Regiment 
already  formed  in  a  ravine,  commenced  moving 
over  the  hill  in  their  front  in  line  of  battle.  We 
had  reached  the  brow  of  the  hill  when  the  rebels 
from  their  forts,  opened  upon  our  whole  line  with 
shell,  shrapnell,  grape  and  caunister.  Hurrying 
down  into  the  next  ravine  we  escaped  injury. 
Another  high  hill  was  now  to  be  gone  over.  We 
went  steadily  forward  up  its  steep  side,  in 
comparative  security.  When  we  had  reached  its 
brow  in  full  view  of  the  rebel  line  of  works, 
there  poured  upon  us  a  shower  of  shells  which 


150  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

made  the  earth  tremble  with  their  terrific  explo- 
sion. It  was  on  this  hill  that  the  loss  of  our 
regiment  on  this  day  was  sustained.  On  account 
of  the  deep  gorges  on  the  Vicksburg  side  of  the 
hill,  we  were  unable  to  keep  our  lines  dressed, 
and  the  men  anxious  for  the  security  afforded  by 
the  ravine  at  the  bottom,  broke  down  into  it  in 
lively  confusion.  An  enormous  shell,  which 
exploded  in  uncomfortable  proximity  to  my  own 
person,  sent  me  hurriedly  down  through  a  gorge 
of  the  hill,  and  has  left  its  mark  upon  my  knee, 
occasioning  some  stiffness,  but  not  disabling  me. 
Our  loss  upon  the  hill  just  alluded  to,  was  four 
killed  and  twelve  wounded.  Their  names  will 
be  found  in  the  list  enclosed. 

Having  reached  the  ravine  above  referred  to, 
there  was  only  one  more  ridge  or  hill  between  us 
and  the  hill  from  which  the  rebel  guns  thun- 
dered, probably  six  hundred  yards  off.  Finding 
the  enemy  strongly  entrenched,  a  halt  was 
ordered  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  forward  our 
artillery  to  better  positions.  The  idea  of  an 
immediate  assault  was  abandoned.  From  Mon- 
day afternoon  until  Friday  morning  the  army 
rested,  at  night  sleeping  upon  their  arms,  our 
artillery  in  the  meantime  having  been  put  in 
excellent  positions. 

Friday  morning  the  day  broke  clear  and  calm. 
At  eight  o'clock  the  artillery  opened  all  around 
our  lines,  the  gunboats  and  mortars  in  front,  our 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  151 

numerous  batteries  in  rear  of  Vicksburg.  Not 
less,  probably,  than  eight  hundred  of  our  cannon 
were,  between  the  hours  of  eight  and  twelve, 
belching  forth  their  iron  missiles.  At  ten  o'clock 
our  whole  line  was  ordered  to  charge  the  rebel 
works  with  bayonets  fixed.  Our  Regiment  was 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  just  behind  the  brow 
of  the  hill  over  which  our  charge  was  to  be 
made.  On  the  next  hill  frowned  the  rebel  fort, 
up  into  the  face  of  which  it  was  our  duty  to  go. 
Between  us  was  a  deep  ravine  filled  with  fallen 
timber  and  thick  undergrowth  of  brush,  bram- 
bles and  cane.  Ten  o'clock,  the  hour  we  had  so 
anxiously  waited  for,  finally  came.  "Forward 
the  Seventy-Seventh,"  was  the  word,  the  men 
sprang  to  their  arms,  and  moved  up  and  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill.  Ten  or  fifteen  feet  over 
the  brow  the  storm  opened  upon  us  terribly  from 
the  right,  left  and  front,  making  sad  havoc  in 
our  ranks.  Down  into  the  abattis  of  fallen  tim- 
ber and  brush  we  went,  and  commenced  the 
struggle  of  the  ascent,  our  comrades  falling 
thickly  on  all  sides  of  us.  Still  up  the  hill  we 
pressed,  through  the  brambles  and  brush,  over 
the  dead  and  dying — up,  up  we  struggled,  over 
logs,  into  ditches,  clinging  here  to  a  bush  to 
keep  from  falling  backwards,  and  there  to  a 
thorny  bramble  —  oh!  that  was  an  half  hour 
which  may  God  grant  we  shall  not  bo  called 
upon  to  experience  its  like  again.  Finally  the 


152  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

fort  is  reached.  Panting  for  breath,  and  with 
only  a  fragment  of  the  regiment  for  their  sup- 
port, a  dauntless  dash  was  made  for  the  fort.  A 
part  of  our  men  went  over  into  the  ditch  sur- 
rounding the  fort,  a  few  got  through  a  port-hole 
upon  the  inside. 

The  fort  was  a  double  work.  The  rebels  broke 
from  the  front  portion  to  the  rear  and  rallied. 
"  Plant  our  colors  upon  the  ramparts,"  Colonel 
Grier  shouted;  and  they  were  planted  amid  the 
shouts  of  our  men  —  the  first  and  only  Union 
colors  planted  upon  the  enemy's  ramparts  along 
the  whole  line.  Fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  after 
reaching  the  fort,  the  48th  Ohio  and  130th  Illi- 
nois of  our  brigade  came  to  our  support,  but  in 
the  mean  time  the  enemy  had  been  reenforced 
at  that  point,  and  we  were  too  weak  to  attempt 
to  carry  their  inner  work.  Unsupported  for  ten 
hours  we  kept  up  the  fight  amid  the  enfilading 
fire  of  rebel  cannon  and  musketry.  I  wish  it 
were  in  my  power  to  do  justice  to  the  immortal 
heroism  of  the  noble  men  and  officers  of  the  77th 
Regiment,  upon  whom  fell  the  principal  brunt  of 
the  fight,  who,  during  those  ten  thrilling  hours, 
defended  the  position  which  they  had,  after  such 
a  fearful  struggle  obtained.  Comrade  after  com- 
rade fell  around  us;  hotter  and  hotter  grew  the 
rebel  fire  as  regiment  after  regiment  came  to 
their  support,  but  we  would  not  give  back. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  153 

Reinforcements  were  promised  us,  and  most 
anxiously,  but  in  vain,  we  watched  for  them. 

Nearly  half  our  men  were  either  killed  or 
wounded,  and  all  of  us  nearly  exhausted  by  the 
day's  fight,  when,  at  about  six  o'clock,  the  enemy 
rallied  in  force,  made  a  rush  with  fixed  bayonets, 
and  for  a  few  seconds  we  thought  all  was  lost. 
Our  men  fell  back  in  confusion,  but  only  some 
twelve  feet.  I  think  the  prompt  action  of  the 
officers  of  the  regiment  saved  it  from  rout  and 
slaughter.  We  rallied  the  men,  checked  the  ad- 
vance of  the  rebels  and  held  our  own.  They  cap- 
tured our  regimental  banner  in  the  sortie,  which 
had  floated  all  day  over  their  fort  and  had  been 
shot  to  shreds.  The  staff  of  the  regimental  flag 
presented  us  by  Mrs.  Cockle,  was  shot  off,  the  flag 
falling  into  the  ditch,  where  it  was  buried  in  the 
earth  by  some  of  our  wounded  men,  when  they 
saw  the  rebel  rush.  We  are  in  hopes  to  get  it 
yet.  This  sortie  also  cost  us  a  few  prisoners — 
men  who  were  in  the  ditch  and  could  not  get  out. 

We  lay  upon  our  arms  about  two  hours  after 
dark,  holding  the  enemy  in  check  in  order  to 
afford  an  opportunity  to  retire  quietly  and  in  or- 
der, and  for  the  purpose  of  getting  our  wounded 
to  the  rear.  Several  of  our  dead  we  were  un- 
able to  bring  away. 

The  77th  Regiment  crossed  the  Mississippi 
River  with  about  420  men.  Company  u  B," 

Captain  Stevison,  was  not  in  Friday's  fight,  it 
10 


154  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

having  been  detailed  for  guard  duty.  We  made 
the  assault  with  275  men.  Of  this  number  we 
lost  114  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 

I  would  like  to  add  more,  but  have  not  time 
to  do  so.  Yours  truly,  L.  R.  W. 

In  confirmation  of  what  has  been  said  about 
the  operations  on  May  19th  and  22d,  we  extract 
a  few  passages  from  the  official  report  of  Col. 
W.  J.  Landram,  commanding  the  brigade  of 
which  the  Seventy-Seventh  formed  a  part. 

"The  advance  was  conducted  in  fine  style  and 
the  men  fought  bravely.  The  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  on  this  day  (May  19th)  was  sixty-three. 
On  the  20th  the  19th  Kentucky  relieved  the  77th 
Illinois,  and  together  with  the  97th  and  130th 
Illinois,  skirmished  with  the  enemy  during  that 
day.  On  the  21st  the  brigade  was  relieved,  and 
on  the  22d  was  ordered  to  act  as  a  reserve  for  the 
Brigade  of  General  Lawler,  of  General  Carr's 
Division,  which  was  ordered  to  storm  the  enemy's 
works  at  ten  o'clock  A.M.  The  77th  Illinois  and 
48th  Ohio  were  ordered  to  follow  the  two  regi- 
ments of  General  Lawler's  Brigade  that  ad- 
vanced on  his  right,  and  the  19th  Kentucky  to 
follow  the  97th  Illinois  which  was  ordered  to 
report  to  General  Lawler  on  the  left.  This  move- 
ment of  the  Reserve  in  columns  closed  upon  the 
advance,  was  not  in  accordance  with  the  plan  I 
had  proposed,  but  being  ordered  by  General 
Lawler,  who  had  the  front,  was  obeyed. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  155 

"  The  Reserve  in  moving  over  rough  and  rug- 
ged ground  closed  upon  the  advance,  was  ex- 
posed to  a  constant  tire  which  it  could  not 
return,  whereas  if  it  had  been  kept  in  reserve 
distance,  in  rifle  range  of  the  enemy's  works,  it 
could  have  covered  the  advance  of  General  Law- 
ler  by  a  well-directed  fire  which  would  have 
annoyed  the  enemy  and  saved  the  lives  of  many 
men,  besides  being  in  a  position  to  go  to  the 
support  of  the  Brigade  in  front  in  proper  time. 

"As  it  was,  all  the  men  were  rushed  forward  in 
haste,  were  much  wearied,  and  compelled  to 
stand  for  nine  hours  under  the  hottest  fire  I  ever 
witnessed.  All  the  troops  of  the  Brigade,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  skulkers,  behaved  with 
the  greatest  gallantry.  The  flag  of  the  77th 
Illinois  (Col.  D.  P.  Grier)  was  the  first  raised 
upon  the  large  fort  in  our  front,  and  the  two 
flags  of  that  Regiment,  together  with  that  of 
the  48th  Ohio,  were  the  only  ones  raised  upon 
the  fort.  The  flag  of  the  130th  Illinois  was 
planted  in  the  ground  within  about  ten  feet  of 
the  fort.  I  am  confident  that  no  troops  ever 
fought  better  or  behaved  more  nobly  than  those 
of  this  Brigade. 

"  Late  in"'  the  afternoon  the  enemy  massed 
their  forces  in  our  front  and  made  a  desperate 
effort  to  dislodge  us  from  our  position,  which 
was  close  to  the  works,  part  of  the  men  being 
inside  of  the  fort.  For  a  moment  the  men  were 


156  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

surprised  and  wavered,  but  Col.  Grier,  Lieut. 
Col.  Webb  and  Major  Hotchkiss  of  the  77th, 
and  Col.  Niles,  of  the  130th  Illinois,  waved  their 
swords  and  rallied  their  men  who  opened  upon 
the  enemy  and  by  a  brilliant  charge  drove  them 
again  from  the  fort, 

"The  artillery  in  the  rear  at  that  moment  ren- 
dered the  most  valuable  assistance,  in  throwing 
a  well-directed  and  vigorous  tire  into  the  enemy's 
works.  I  cannot  speak  too  highly  in  praise  of 
Colonel  Grier  and  his  noble  Regiment.  Their 
loss  was  114  in  killed  and  wounded  in  a  single 
day.  By  this  determined  resistance  we  were 
enabled  to  hold  the  ground  we  occupied  at  the 
fort  until  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when  we  were 
ordered  to  withdraw." 

In  order  to  give  an  impartial  account  of  this 
day's  work,  and  that  both  sides  may  be  allowed 
to  testifiy,  we  quote  a  passage  from  a  southern 
source.  E.  A.  Pollard,  in  his  "  Third  Year  of 
the  War,"  gives  a  glowing  account  of  the  as- 
sault and  repulse.  But  we  must  say  that  he 
draws  largely  on  the  imagination  when  he  says 
that  we  "  precipitately  retreated."  Here  is  what 
he  says : 

"On  the  22d,  the  tire  from  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery and  sharpshooters  in  the  rear  was  heavy  and 
incessant  until  noon,  when  his  gunboats  opened 
upon  the  city,  while  a  determined  assault  was 
made  along  Moore's,  Hebert's  and  Lee's  lines. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  157 

At  about  one  o'clock  P.M.,  a  heavy  force  moved 
out  to  the  assault  on  the  lines  of  General  Lee, 
making  a  gallant  charge.  They  were  allowed 
to  approach  unmolested  to  within  good  musket 
range,  when  every  available  gun  was  opened 
upon  them  with  grape  and  cannister,  and  the 
men,  rising  in  the  trenches,  poured  into  their 
ranks  volley  after  volley,  with  so  deadly  an  effect 
that,  leaving  the  ground  literally  covered  in 
some  places  with  their  dead  and  wounded,  they 
precipitately  retreated.  The  angle  of  one  of  our 
redoubts  having  been  breached  by  their  artillery 
previous  to  the  assault,  when  the  repulse  oc- 
curred a  party  of  about  sixty  of  the  enemy,  under 
the  command  of  a  Lieutenant  Colonel,  made  a 
rush,  succeeded  in  effecting  a  lodgment  in  the 
ditch  at  the  foot  of  the  redoubt,  and  planted 
two  colors  on  the  parapet. 

"  It  was  of  vital  importance  to  drive  them  out, 
and  upon  a  call  for  volunteers  for  that  purpose, 
two  companies  of  Waul's  Texas  Legion,  com- 
manded respectively  by  Captain  Bradley  and 
Lieutenant  Hogue,  accompanied  by  the  gallant 
and  chivalrous  Colonel  E.  W.  Pettus,  of  the 
Twentieth  Alabama  regiment,  musket  in  hand 
promptly  presented  themselves  for  the  hazard- 
ous service.  The  preparations  were  quietly  and 
quickly  made,  but  the  enemy  seemed  at  once  to 
divine  our  purpose,  and  opened  upon  the  angle 
a  terrific  fire  of  shot,  shell  and  musketry.  Un- 


158  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

daunted,  this  little  band,  its  chivalrous  com- 
mander at  its  head,  rushed  upon  the  work,  and 
in  less  time  than  it  requires  to  describe  it,  it  and 
the  flags  were  in  our  possession.  Preparations 
were  then  quickly  made  for  the  use  of  our  hand- 
grenades,  when  the  enemy  in  the  ditch,  being 
informed  of  the  purpose,  immediately  surren- 
dered." 

We  failed  to  cary  the  formidable  works  of  the 
enemy,  not  for  any  lack  of  courage,  or  want  of 
discipline  in  the  army.  On  the  contrary  this 
check  —  for  it  was  not  a  defeat — only  inspired 
the  men  to  endure  any  hardships  and  suffer  any 
losses  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  darling 
object — the  reduction  of  Vicksburg.  Our  losses 
were  great,  but  not  irreparable.  Our  failure  was 
not  so  disheartening  as  might  have  been  sup- 
posed. In  fact,  the  prospect  of  final  success  was 
brighter  than  it  was  when  we  crossed  the  Mis- 
sissippi. At  all  events,  there  seemed  to  be  a 
stronger  determination  than  ever  to  succeed,  and 
when  night — never  more  welcome  to  the  weary 
soldier — closed  over  the  scene  of  the  day's  con- 
flict, we  retired  to  our  camps  to  sleep  and  dream 
of  absent  friends. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  killed,  wounded 
and  missing  in  the  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, in  the  engagements  near  Yicksburg, 
May  19th  and  22d,  1863,  as  officially  reported  by 
Col.  D.  P.  Grier: 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  169 


"A."  Killed  —  Sergeant  John  F.  Campbell;  Private  John 
Wilber. 

Wounded  —  Privates  Samuel  Bolt  (mortally),  George 
D.  Butler,  Milton  Dippery,  James  H.  Tarlton,  John 
F.  Wilson,  John  L.  Woolsey. 

Missing — Sergeants  William  H.  Holcomb,  Thomas 
Harrison ;  Corporal  John  X.  Griffith ;  Privates  John 
C.  Burlingame,  Luther  G.  Russell,  Henry  Wilson. 

"B."    Wounded — Corporal   George   M.   Holmes;    Privates 
James  King,  John  Ruley,  William  A.  West. 

"  C."  Killed  —  Privates  Robert  Bennett,  William  M.  Ker- 
rick. 

Wounded  —  Captain  J.  M.  McCulloch;  Sergeants 
James  H.  Drennen  (mortally),  Joseph  A.  Hutchinson; 
Corporals  John  Sewell,  Samuel  M.  Hart;  Privates 
Alma  Rogers,  James  Drake  (mortally),  Martin  V. 
Robbins,  James  R.  McCracken,  William  M.  Pinker- 
ton,  Andrew  Rufing,  Joseph  Sims,  John  C.  Dunbar, 
William  Stevenson,  Dudley  Linville. 
Missing  —  Corporal  James  P.  Black;  Privates  W.  F. 
Carson,  August  Farrer,  Cephas  H.  John. 

"  D."  Killed — Privates  Barnard  Connolly,  James  P.  Isom, 
John  A.  Stockton. 

Wounded  —  Lieutenant  William  I.  Goodrich;  Ser- 
geant Jacob  C.  Batrum;  Corporal  Frederick  B.  Jones 
(mortally);  Privates  Andrew  J.  Brewer  (mortally), 
John  Blackmore,  Peter  Degner  (mortally),  Martin 
Hoagland  (mortally),  Ernestes  J.  Meyers  (mortally), 
Warren  D.  Meyers,  Richard  Shaw,  Joseph  Tronier, 
Joseph  Wills. 

Missing — Privates  Apollos  Laughlin,  Peter  Over- 
mier,  Jesse  Sawyer,  Cornelius  Twinam. 

"E."   Killed — Corporal   Harris    Parr;   Privates  Gustavus 
Huffman,  Charles  Stevens. 

Wounded  —  Sergeant  Henry  L.  Bushnell;  Corporals 
R.  McKee  Davis  (mortally),  Benjamin  F.  Robbins; 
Privates  William  H.  Magee,  Robert  W.  Summers, 
Lorenzo  W.  Cord  (mortally),  Jacob  Mankle,  John  S. 
Hammerbacher,  John  W.  Smith  (mortally). 
Missing  —  Private  James  M.  Sweet. 


160  [THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

"  P."  Killed—  Corporal  Francis  W.  Fisher;  Private  Martin 
Mason. 

Wounded  —  Corporal     William     Fowler;     Privates 
Thomas  Thurman,  George  Attick. 
Missing  —  Corporal  Lewis  Hamrick;  Privates  Joseph 
Buckman,  George  Lawrence,  Harmon  Seifert. 

"  G."  Killed  —  Corporals  Hitz  Boney  Petres,  Henry  C. 
Brassfield;  Private  Joab  Baily. 

Wounded — Sergeant  William  G.  Huey;  Corporal 
Erastus  Gilbert;  Privates  Littleton  A.  German, 
David  Hart  (mortally),  Joseph  Shull,  Isaac  Ensley. 

"H."  Killed — Corporal  Joseph  C.  Clegg;  Privates  Milton 
G.  Marshall,  Freeman  P.  Wilson,  William  S.  Worth- 
ington. 

Wounded  —  Corporals  John  P.  McCoy,  Cyrus  K.  Sny- 
der;  Privates  Stephen  W.  Maring,  William  Swende- 
man;  Ira  Hofnagle  (mortally),  Michael  Stewart  (mor- 
tally), Nathaniel  Livingston,  William  H.  Bocock. 
Missing — Sergeants  Sylvester  S.  Heath,  Valentine  P. 
Peabody;  Privates  John  Farrell,  George  W.  James. 

"I."    Killed— Private  John  Hyne. 

Wounded — Captain  Wayne  O'Donald;  Lieutenant 
George  W.  Cone ;  Corporal  Rufus  Atherton ;  Privates 
John  H.  Mathews,  William  H.  Richardson,  Scott  H. 
Rockenfield,  William  H.  Warne,  Willis  H.  Ferguson, 
Lewis  J.  Be  vans,  Isaac  Brown. 
Missing  —  Private  John  T.  Biggs. 

"  K."  Wounded  —  Lieutenant  Marcus  O.  Harkness,  at 
Champion  Hills,  May  16th;  Sergeant  Servetus  Holt; 
Privates  William  Beck  (mortally),  Charles  Parnham, 
Levi  H.  King,  John  Cronan  (mortally),  Roger 
Grenough,  Samuel  J.  Sherwood,  John  A.  Enders, 
Edward  Halstead,  Richard  Morris,  John  Wholsten- 
holm,  Auxilius  Gurtern. 

N.  B. — We  have  reason  to  fear  that  many  of  those  re- 
reported  missing  are  dead,  though  we  have  been  unable  to 
secure  their  bodies. 

(Official.)  D.  P.  GRIER, 

Col.  Commanding  77th  Reg't  III.  Volunteers. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 


161 


RECAPITULATION. 


Company  A, 

2  Killed.          6  Wounded.            6  Missing. 

B, 

0 

4 

0 

c, 

2 

15 

4 

D 

3 

12 

4 

E, 

3 

9 

1 

F, 

2 

3 

4 

3 

6 

0 

H; 

4 

8 

4 

I, 

1 

10 

1 

K, 

0 

13 

0 

Total,    20  86  24 

Before  proceeding  further  with  this  narrative, 
let  us  look  at  our  losses  in  these  engagements. 
On  the  morning  of  May  16th,  when  the  Regi- 
ment was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  at  Cham- 
pion Hills,  Adjutant  Henry  P.  Ayres  walked 
along  the  line  and  counted  the  men  in  the  Regi- 
ment at  that  time,  and  they  numbered  three  hun- 
dred and  forty -nine.  If  we  deduct  our  losses  up 
to  the  night  of  May  22d  we  have  an  aggregate 
strength  of  two  hundred  and  nineteen  at  the  close 
of  that  fatal  day.  It  is  true  that  many  of  the 
men  reported  lost  were  but  slightly  wounded, 
and  soon  returned  to  duty.  But  when  we  re- 
member that  we  left  Feoria  less  than  eight 
months  before  with  nearly  nine  hundred  men, 
the  contrast  is  alarming,  and  shows  something 
of  the  fearful  ravages  of  war. 

It  now  became  very  evident  that  the  works  at 
Vicksburg  could  not  be  carried  by  storm.  We 
had  made  two  attempts  and  had  failed  in  both. 


162  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

It  would  be  a  criminal  sacrifice  of  human  life  to 
try  again.  There  was  but  one  resource  left,  and 
that  was  to  dig  them  out.  Unpleasant  as  this 
conviction  was,  it  was  the  only  alternative,  and 
we  must  cheerfully  submit.  Henceforth  spades 
would  be  trumps.  But  many  of  our  comrades  had 
fallen  between  the  lines  and  were  now  festering 
in  the  sun,  threatening  pestilence  to  the  city  and 
the  camps.  To  prevent  this  it  became  our 
mournful  duty  to  bury  the  dead.  For  this  pur- 
pose a  suspension  of  hostilities  was  agreed  upon, 
and  the  men  of  the  two  armies  met  and  mingled 
and  conversed  on  friendly  terms.  But  this 
social  gathering,  this  friendly  picnic,  was  of 
short  duration.  As  soon  as  the  work  in  hand 
was  completed  the  besiegers  and  besieged  re- 
tired within  their  respective  lines,  and  the  work 
of  death  was  renewed. 

Our  lines  extended  several  miles.  General 
Sherman,  with  his  Corps,  occupied  the  right, 
Gen.  McPherson  the  centre,  and  Gen.  McOler- 
nand  the  left,  and  each  corps  went  to  work  vig- 
orously digging  trenches  and  pushing  their 
saps  and  covered  ways  in  the  direction  of  the 
works  in  front.  In  addition  to  this  labor  we 
had  to  build  fortifications  in  the  rear,  as  Gen. 
Joe  Johnston  was  expected  from  that  direction 
with  a  large  army  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the 
siege.  Gen.  Grant,  having  taken  these  precau- 
tions, and  having  sent  north  for  reinforcements, 
the  work  of  digging  went  rapidly  forward. 


CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTH. 


SUCCESS. 


-r  General   John   A.    McClernand 

was   in    command   of   the   Thirteenth 


Army  Corps  from  the  time  that  Gen- 
eral Grant  made  his  appearance  at  Young's 
Point,  and  assumed  control  of  all  the  land  forces 
operating  in  that  vicinity.  As  the  commander 
of  that  Corps  he  was  uniformly  successful  until 
he  effected  a  lodgment,  along  with  the  Fifteenth 
and  Seventeenth  Corps,  on  the  hills  and  in  the 
valleys  of  Vicksburg.  His  march  from  Milliken's 
Bend,  through  Louisiana  and  Mississippi,  was 
marked  by  a  constant  succession  of  victories. 
How  much  of  his  success  was  due  to  the  fight- 
ing qualities  of  his  soldiers,  is  not  for  us  to 
determine.  How  much  of  it  was  due  to  the 
ability  of  his  Lieutenants,  among  whom  we  may 
mention  our  own  Division  Commander,  General 
A.  J.  Smith,  "the  gallant  hero  of  forty  bat- 
tles," let  the  reader  be  the  judge.  Perhaps  he 
felt  a  pardonable  pride  in  the  brilliant  record 
made  by  his  Corps  in  that  remarkable  campaign. 
It  is  thought  best  in  this  connection  to  allow 


164  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

him  to  tell  the  story  of  his  marches  and  battles, 
and  for  this  purpose  we  give  his  famous  "  General 
Orders,  No.  72,"  congratulating  the  troops  of  his 

command. 

HEADQUARTERS  13TH  ARMY  CORPS,  | 
BATTLE-FIELD  IN  REAR  OF  VICKSBURG,  > 
May  30,  1863.  j 

General  Orders,  No.  72. 

COMRADES  :  As  your  commander,  I  am 
proud  to  congratulate  you  upon  your  constancy, 
valor  and  success.  History  affords  no  more 
brilliant  example  of  soldierly  qualities.  Your 
victories  have  followed  in  such  rapid  succession 
that  their  echoes  have  not  yet  reached  the  coun- 
try. They  will  challenge  its  grateful  and  enthu- 
siastic applause.  Yourselves  striking  out  a  new 
path,  your  comrades  of  the  Tennessee  followed, 
and  the  way  was  thus  opened  for  them  to  redeem 
previous  disappointments.  Your  march  through 
Louisiana  from  Milliken's  Bend  to  New  Car- 
thage and  Perkins'  Plantation,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  on 
record.  Bayous  and  miry  roads  threatened  with 
momentary  inundations,  obstructed  your  progress. 
All  these  were  overcome  by  unceasing  labor  and 
unflagging  energy.  The  two  thousand  feet  of 
bridging  which  was  .hastily  improvised  out  of 
materials  created  on  the  spot,  and  over  which 
you  passed,  must  long  be  remembered  as  a  mar- 
vel. Descending  the  Mississippi  still  lower,  you 
were  the  first  to  cross  the  river  at  Bruin's  Land- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  165 

ing,  and  to  plant  our  colors  in  the  State  of  Mis- 
sissippi below  Warrenton.  Resuming  the  ad- 
vance the  same  day,  you  pushed  on  until  you 
came  up  to  the  enemy  near  Port  Gibson.  Only 
restrained  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  you 
hastened  to  attack  him  on  the  morning  of  the 
first  of  May,  and  by  vigorously  pressing  him  at 
all  points,  drove  him  from  his  position,  taking  a 
large -number  of  prisoners  and  small  arms,  and 
five  cannon.  General  Logan's  Division  came  up 
in  time  to  gallantly  share  in  consummating  the 
most  valuable  victory  since  the  capture  of  Fort 
Donelson. 

Taking  the  lead  on  the  morning  of  the  second, 
you  were  the  first  to  enter  Port  Gibson,  and  to 
hasten  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  from  the  vicin- 
ity of  that  place.  During  the  ensuing  night,  as 
a  consequence  of  the  victory  at  Port  Gibson,  the 
enemy  spiked  his  guns  at  Grand  Gulf,  and  evac- 
uated that  place,  retiring  upon  Vicksburg  and 
Edward's  Station.  The  fall  of  Grand  Gulf  was 
solely  the  result  of  the  victory  by  the  land  forces 
at  Port  Gibson.  The  armament  and  public 
stores  captured  there  are  the  just  trophies  of 
that  victory. 

Hastening  to  bridge  the  south  branch  of  the 
Bayou  Pierre  at  Port  Gibson,  you  crossed  on  the 
morning  of  the  third,  and  pushed  on  to  Willow 
Springs,  Big  Sandy,  and  the  main  crossing  of 
Fourteen-mile  Creek,  four  miles  from  Edward's 


166  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Station.  A  detachment  of  the  enemy  was  im- 
mediately driven  away  from  the  crossing,  and  you 
advanced,  passed  over,  and  rested  during  the 
night  of  the  12th,  within  three  miles  of  the 
enemy  in  large  force,  at  the  Station. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  objective 
points  of  the  army's  movements  having  been 
changed  from  Edward's  Station  to  Jackson,  in 
pursuance  of  an  order  from  the  Commander  of 
the  Department,  you  moved  on  the  north  of 
Fourteen-mile  Creek  toward  Raymond. 

This  delicate  and  hazardous  movement  was 
executed  by  a  portion  of  your  numbers  under 
cover  of  Hovey's  Division,  which  made  a  feint 
of  attack  in  line  of  battle  upon  Edward's  Station. 
Too  late  to  harm  you,  the  enemy  attacked  the 
rear  of  that  Division,  but  was  promptly  and 
decisively  repulsed. 

Resting  near  Raymond  that  night,  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  you  entered  that  place,  one 
Division  moving  on  to  Mississippi  Springs,  near 
Jackson,  in  support  of  General  Sherman,  another 
to  Clinton,  in  support  of  General  McPherson,  a 
third  remaining  at  Raymond,  and  a  fourth  at  Old 
Auburn,  to  bring  up  the  army  trains. 

On  the  15th  you  again  led  the  advance  towards 
Edward's  Station,  which  once  more  became  the 
objective  point.  Expelling  the  enemy  from  Bol- 
ton,  the  same  day,  you  seized  and  held  that  im- 
portant position. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  167 

• • • 

On  the  16th  you  led  the  advance  in  three 
columns  upon  three  roads,  against  Edward's  Sta- 
tion. Meeting  the  enemy  on  the  way,  in  strong 
force,  you  heavily  engaged  him  near  Champion 
Hills,  and  after  a  sanguinary  and  obstinate  battle, 
with  the  assistance  of  General  McPherson's 
Corps,  beat  and  routed  him,  taking  many  pris- 
oners and  small  arms,  and  several  pieces  of 
cannon. 

Continuing  to  lead  the  advance,  you  rapidly 
pursued  the  enemy  to  Edward's  Station,  captur- 
ing that  place,  a  large  quantity  of  public  stores, 
and  many  prisoners  and  small  arms.  Night  only 
stopped  you. 

At  day-dawn  on  the  17th,  you  resumed  the 
advance,  and  early  coming  upon  the  enemy 
strongly  entrenched  in  elaborate  works,  both 
before  and  behind  Big  Black  River,  immediately 
opened  with  artillery  upon  him,  followed  by  a 
daring  and  heroic  charge  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  which  put  him  to  rout,  leaving  eighteen 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  more  than  a  thousand 
prisoners  in  your  hands. 

By  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  18th, 
you  had  constructed  a  bridge  across  the  Big 
Black,  and  had  commenced  the  advance  upon 
Vicksburg. 

On  the  19th,  20th  and  21st,  you  continued  the 
reconnoitre  and  skirmish,  until  you  had  gained 
a  near  approach  to  the  enemy's  works. 


168  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

« 

On  the  22d,  in  pursuance  of  the  order  of  the 
Commander  of  the  Department,  you  assaulted 
the  enemy's  defences  in  front  at  10  o'clock  A.  M., 
and  within  thirty  minutes  had  made  a  lodgment 
and  planted  your  colors  upon  two  of  his  bastions. 
This  partial  success  called  into  exercise  the 
highest  heroism,  and  was  only  gained  by  a  bloody 
and  protracted  struggle.  Yet  it  was  gained,  and 
was  the  first  and  largest  success  gained  anywhere 
along  the  whole  line  of  the  army. 

For  nearly  eight  hours,  under  a  scorching  sun 
and  destructive  fire,  you  firmly  held  your  foot- 
ing, and  only  withdrew  when  the  enemy  had 
largely  massed  their  forces,  and  concentrated 
their  attack  upon  you. 

How  and  why  the  general  assault  failed,  it 
would  be  needless  now  to  explain.  The  13th 
Army  Corps,  acknowledging  the  good  intentions 
of  all,  would  scorn  indulgence  in  weak  regrets 
and  idle  recriminations.  According  justice  to 
all,  it  would  only  defend  itself.  If,  while  the 
enemy  was  massing  to  crush  it,  assistance  was 
asked  for  by  a  Division  at  other  points,  or  by 
reinforcements,  it  only  asked  what,  in  one  case 
Major  General  Grant  had  specifically  and  per- 
emptorily ordered,  namely,  simultaneous  and 
persistent  attack  all  along  our  lines,  until  the 
enemy's  outer-works  should  be  carried;  and  what 
in  the  other  by  massing  a  strong  force  in  time 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  169 

upon  a  weakened  point,  would  have  probably 
insured  success. 

Comrades  :  You  have  done  much ;  yet  some- 
thing more  remains  to  be  done.  The  enemy's 
odious  defences  still  block  your  access  to  Vicks- 
burg.  Treason  still  rules  that  rebellious  city, 
and  closes  the  Mississippi  River  against  rightful 
use  by  the  millions  who  inhabit  its  sources  and 
the  great  Northwest.  Shall  not  the  flag  float 
over  Vicksburg  ?  Shall  not  the  great  "  Father 
of  Waters"  be  opened  to  lawful  commerce? 
Methinks  the  emphatic  response  of  one  and  all 
of  you  is,  "  It  shall  be  so."  Then  let  us  rise  to 
the  level  of  a  crowning  trial !  Let  our  common 
sufferings  and  glories,  while  uniting  us  as  a  band 
of  brothers,  rouse  us  to  new  and  surpassing 
efforts !  Let  us  resolve  upon  success,  God  help- 
ing us. 

I  join  with  you,  comrades,  in  your  sympathy 
for  the  wounded,  and  sorrow  for  the  dead.  May 
we  not  trust  —  nay,  is  it  not  so,  that  history  will 
associate  the  martyrs  of  this  sacred  struggle  for 
law  and  order,  liberty  and-  justice,  with  the  hon- 
ored martyrs  of  Monmouth  and  Bunker  Hill  ? 

JOHN  A.  McCLERNAND, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

So  much  for  the  Order.  Now  for  the  result. 
This  order  gave  great  offense  to  the  other  Corps 

commanders,    because,    according   to  their  con- 
11 


170  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

struction,  it  cast  reflections  upon  them.  Be  this 
as  it  may,  a  sharp  correspondence  between  Gen. 
Grant  and  Gen.  McClernand  resulted  from  it. 
The  war  of  words  went  on  for  several  days,  until 
finally,  General  Grant  issued  a  special  order, 
from  which  the  following  is  an  extract. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  ) 
NEAR  VICKSBURG,  June  15,  1863.         } 

Special  Orders,  No.  16%. 

Extract. 

Major  General  John  A.  McClernand  is  hereby 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps.  He  will  proceed  to  any  point  he 
may  select  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  report  by 
letter  to  headquarters  of  the  army  for  orders. 

Major  General  E.  O.  C.  Ord  is  hereby  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
President,  and  will  immediately  assume  charge 
of  the  same. 

By  order  of     Major  General  U..S.  GRANT. 
JOHN  A.  RAWLINS,  A.  A.  G. 

And  who  was  Major  General  Ord  ?  He  was  a 
total  stranger  to  us,  both  personally  and  by  rep- 
utation. If  he  had  ever  distinguished  himself 
as  a  commander,  we  were  ignorant  of  the  fact. 
But,  presuming  that  Gen.  Grant  considered  him 
an  extra-Ord-inary  man  and  worthy  of  all  confi- 
dence, we  went  on  with  our  digging  as  though 
nothing  unusual  had  occurred. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  171 

While  we  were  working  in  the  trenches,  firing 
on  the  picket  line,  or  giving  them  an  occasional 
salute  from  our  batteries,  the  navy  was  not  idle. 
That  department  of  the  service  did  a  great  deal 
of  damage  in  the  city,  and  the  inhabitants  must 
have  lived  in  constant  dread  of  the  exploding 
shells.  At  night  when  the  mortars  were  firing 
occasional  shots  we  would  mount  the  breast- 
works, and  watch  the  shells  in  their  flight.  We 
could  see  the  flash  as  the  mortar  was  discharged, 
and. then  by  the  aid  of  the  faint,  flickering  fuse, 
could  watch  the  ascent  until  the  shell  reached 
the  highest  point,  and  then  turning  in  its  down- 
ward course,  it  would  descend,  slowly  at  first, 
but  with  increasing  velocity,  until  finally  it 
burst  with  terrible  fury  over  the  devoted  city. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  General 
Johnston's  coming  in  from  the  rear  with  troops 
to  raise  the  siege,  the  Divisions  of  Generals 
Osterhaus  and  Blair  were  sent  in  that  direction 
on  the  27th  of  May,  to  reconnoitre  the  country ? 
ascertain  the  rebel  strength,  and  repel  any  hos- 
tile demonstration.  They  encountered  a  small 
force  of  the  enemy  at  Mechanicsburg,  which 
they  routed  and  then  pushed  rapidly  forward. 
General  Blair  ascertained  the  fact  that  Johnston 
had,  at  his  command,  about  forty  thousand 
troops,  composed  for  the  most  part  of  old  men 
and  boys  —  the  relics  of  the  "cradle  and  the 
grave" — conscripted  for  the  occasion.  About 


172  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

two-thirds  of  these  troops  were  without  arms. 
These  facts  having  been  made  known,  we  felt 
no  apprehension  for  the  safety  of  our  own  army. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  in  the 
rear,  the  sappers  and  miners  were  busily 
working  at  the  front.  The  hills  were  under- 
mined, and  large  quantities  of  powder  imbed- 
ded to  blow  up  the  rebel  works  at  the  proper 
time.  The  bombardment  was  also  continued 
with  but  slight  interruptions,  while  our  sharp- 
shooters were  constantly  on  the  alert,  and  woe 
to  the  rebel  head  that  appeared  above  the  para- 
pet. 

During  all  this  time,  and  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  we  had  established  an  impenetrable 
line  of  works  around  the  city,  the  people  of  the 
south  fondly  cherished  the  delusion  that  Vicks- 
burg  was  safe  beyond  a  perad venture — that  re- 
lief would  be  sent  to  the  garrison — that  the  siege 
would  be  raised,  and  that  final  disaster,  if  not 
annihilation,  awaited  the  armies  of  Gen.  Grant. 
The  press  and  the  telegraph  daily  informed  them 
that  Vicksburg  was  an  impregnable  fortress,  and 
that  no  fears  need  be  entertained  for  its  safety. 
But  the  prospect  of  relief  from  Johnston  or  from 
any  other  source,  became  daily  more  and  more 
remote,  for,  as  the  situation  of  the  besieged 
became  more  desperate,  our  foothold  in  those 
hills  and  valleys  became  more  secure.  Yet  the 
people  of  the  south  were  taught  to  believe  that 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  173 

the  salvation  of  Vicksburg  was  a  fixed  fact  at 
some  indefinite  period  in  the  future. 

But  our  assurance  was  rendered  doubly  sure 
by  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from  the  north. 
About  the  middle  of  June  Gen.  Parke  came  to 
our  assistance,  with  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  and 
Gen.  Washburn  with  a  part  of  the  Sixteenth. 
With  these  additional  troops  at  his  disposal,  Gen. 
Grant  was  enabled  to  prosecute  the  enterprise 
with  renewed  energy.  A  sufficient  force  was 
sent  to  Black  River  to  bid  defiance  to  all  *ap- 
pr"oaching  forces.  All  hope  of  succor  was  thus 
cut  off,  and  Gen.  Pemberton  found  himself  under 
the  necessity  of  saving  his  strength,  as  well  as 
his  rations  and  ammunition,  in  order  to  prolong 
the  desperate  struggle  which  must  eventually 
terminate  in  his  surrender. 

The  mining  operations  were  carried  on  with 
steady  perseverance  and  success,  and  so  important 
was  this  part  of  the  programme  considered,  that 
the  utmost  secrecy  was  observed  concerning  it. 
Guards  were  placed  at  the  entrance  leading  to 
the  mine,  with  instructions  to  allow  no  one  to 
pass  under  the  rank  of  a  general,  excepting  the 
engineers  and  workmen  carrying  on  the  opera- 
tions. These  workmen  were  miners  of  expe- 
rience, detailed  from  the  different  regiments  for 
the  express  purpose  of  working  in  the  mines.  It 
is  unnecessary  to  give  a  description  of  these 
mines.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  they  were  com- 


174  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

pleted,  the  powder  planted,  and  everything  ready 
for  the  explosion  on  the  25th  of  June. 

On  the  afternoon  of  that  day  an  unusual  scene 
of  commotion  was  witnessed  in  camp.  Troops 
were  concentrating  in  the  most  available  posi- 
tions to  be  ready  for  an  assault,  after  the  mine 
under  Fort  Hill  should  be  sprung.  Sharp- 
shooters were  stationed  to  annoy  the  enemy  until 
the  match  should  be  applied.  The  Seventy- 
Seventh  marched  some  distance  to  the  right,  not 
far  from  the  mine.  The  forlorn  hope  was  com- 
posed of  one  hundred  men  from  the  Forty-Fifth 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  one  hundred  from  the 
Twenty-Third  Indiana.  At  last  everything  was 
ready,  the  troops  were  distributed  along  the  line 
to  do  their  appropriate  share  of  the  work  to  the 
best  advantage.  The  forlorn  hope  stood  in  their 
places,  boldly  awaiting  the  uncertainties  of  their 
fate.  They  would  soon  hurl  themselves  into  the 
breach,  perhaps  never  to  return.  Thousands  of 
glittering  arms  Hashed  on  the  surrounding  hills. 
A  painful  feeling  of  suspense  oppressed  every 
heart  as  the  moments  wore  slowly  away.  At 
last  the  fearful  grandeur  of  the  explosion  burst 
upon  us,  and  an  enormous  column  of  earth,  tim- 
bers and  projectiles,  was  lifted  high  into  the  air. 

It  was  now  a  matter  of  life  and  death  to  the 
contending  forces.  The  forlorn  hope  ran  into 
the  fort,  when  a  lively  musketry  fight  took  place, 
without  much  advantage  to  either  side.  As 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  175 

soon  as  these  detachments  had  become  well  en- 
gaged, the  rest  of  their  brigade  went  to  their 
assistance.  The  fighting  continued  with  varied 
success  all  the  afternoon.  The  flag  of  the  Forty- 
Fifth  was  planted  on  the  works,  while  cheer 
after  cheer  was  heard  above  the  roar  and  confu- 
sion of  battle.  At  six  o'clock  the  Forty-Fifth 
was  withdrawn,  and  another  Illinois  regiment 
took  their  place.  With  regard  to  the  work  of 
that  day  a  correspondent  wrote : 

"  The  explosion  of  the  mine  was  the  signal  for 
the  opening  of  the  artillery  of  the  entire  line. 
The  left  Division  of  Gen.  McPherson's  Seven- 
teenth, or  centre  Corps,  opened  first,  and  dis- 
charges were  repeated  along  the  left  through 
Gen.  Ord's  Thirteenth  Corps  and  Herron's 
extreme  'left  Division,'  until  the  sound  struck 
the  ear  like  the  mutterings  of  distant  thunder. 
Gen.  Sherman  on  the  right,  also  opened  his  artil- 
lery about  the  same  time,  and  occupied  the 
enemy's  attention  along  his  front.  Every  shell 
struck  the  parapet,  and  bounding  over,  exploded 
in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's  forces  beyond.  The 
scene  at  this  time  was  one  of  the  utmost  sub- 
limity. The  roar  of  artillery,  rattle  of  small 
arms,  the  cheers  of  the  men,  flashes  of  light, 
wreaths  of  pale  blue  smoke  over  different  parts 
of  the  field,  the  bursting  of  shell,  the  fierce 
whistle  of  solid  shot,  the  deep  boom  of  the  mor- 
tars, the  broadsides  of  the  ships  of  war,  and 


176  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

added  to  all  this,  the  vigorous  replies  of  the 
enemy,  set  up  a  din  which  beggars  all  descrip- 
tion." 

Probably  the  heaviest  artillery  firing  that  was 
heard  during  the  entire  siege,  succeeded  the 
explosion  of  the  mine,  and  the  greatest  activity 
prevailed  from  one  end  of  our  lines  to  the  other. 
During  the  afternoon  Gen.  Grant  sent  the  fol- 
lowing order : 

June  25,  1863. 

GENERAL  ORD  :  —  McPherson  occupies  the 
crater  made  by  the  explosion.  He  will  have 
guns  in  battery  there  by  morning.  He  has  been 
hard  at  work  running  rifle  pits  right,  and  thinks 
he  will  hold  all  gained. 

Keep  Smith's  Division  sleeping  under  arms  to- 
night, ready  for  an  emergency.  Their  services  may 
be  required,  particularly  about  daylight.  There 
should  be  the  greatest  vigilance  along  the  whole  line. 
U.  S.  GRANT,  Major  General. 

As  the  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  formed  a  part 
of  Smith's  Division,  the  foregoing  order  had 
reference,  in  part,  to  us,  and  that  night  our  line 
of  battle  was  formed.  We  slept  on  our  arms, 
and,  like  Micawber,  "waited  for  something 
to  turn  up."  No  demonstration,  however,  was 
made  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  The  night 
passed  away,  the  morning  dawned,  and  the 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  177 

stereotyped  phrase,  "  All  quiet  on  the  Potomac," 
applied  to  us. 

The  rebels  had  one  gun  which  made  a  peculiar 
whistling  noise  every  time  it  was  fired,  and  from 
this  circumstance  our  boys  called  it  "  Whistling 
Dick."  Whenever  a  shot  from  this  gun  passed 
over  our  heads  with  that  familiar  sound,  the 
boys  would  exclaim,  "  Lay  down,"  "  Here  goes 
your  goose,"  etc.  On  the  morning  of  June  28th, 
the  rebels  having,  by  some  means,  ascertained 
our  position,  commenced  throwing  solid  shot  in 
such  a  manner  that  they  would  strike  the  top  of 
the  hill  above  us,  and  bound  over  into  our  camp. 
For  a  time  there  was  a  lively  scamper  to  get 
behind  the  trees  or  any  other  protection  that 
offered.  Samuel  Sharkey,  of  Co.  "  K,"  was  just 
getting  out  of  bed  when  the  tiring  commenced. 
He  was  struck  on  the  head  by  a  conical  shot  and 
instantly  killed.  His  funeral  took  place  on  the 
evening  of  the  same  day,  our  Chaplain,  Rev. 
Wm.  G.  Pierce,  preaching  the  funeral  sermon. 

About  this  time  there  were  rumors  in  camp 
that  on  the  approaching  Fourth  of  July  —  the 
eighty-seventh  anniversary  of  American  Inde- 
pendence—  a  grand,  final  and  successful  assault 
would  be  made  on  the  rebel  works.  That  these 
rumors  were  not  altogether  without  foundation, 
is  shown  from  the  fact,  that  Gen.  Grant  in  his 
official  report,  says  he  had  made  preparations  for 
an  assault  on  the  6th  of  July,  and  had  already 


178  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

ordered  Gen.  Sherman  to  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  move  immediately,  if  the  assault  proved 
successful. 

General  Pemberton,  actuated  perhaps  as  much 
by  a  desire  to  avoid  a  warm  celebration  of  the 
Fourth  of  July,  as  to  save  the  "  effusion  of 
blood,"  concluded  to  surrender  the  place  at  this 
time,  in  order,  as  he  said,  to  gratify  the  vanity  of 
the  "  Yankees"  by  giving  them  possession  of  the 
"heroic  city"  upon  this,  their  National  holiday, 
and  also  to  secure  better  terms  for  himself  and 
garrison.  On  the  morning  of  July  3d,  a  flag  of 
truce  was  seen  approaching  our  lines  in  front  of 
the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps.  The  flag  was  borne 
by  Gen.  Bowen  and  Col.  Montgomery,  and  was 
immediately  conducted  to  the  headquarters  of 
Brigadier  General  A.  J.  Smith.  Gen.  Bowen 
carried  an  official  document  addressed  to  General 
Grant.  A  courier  was  hastily  sent  to  depart- 
ment headquarters  with  the  message.  On  break- 
ing the  seal  Gen.  Grant  found  a  proposition  for 
the  surrender  of  Vicksburg. 

Gen.  Grant's  terms  in  reply  to  this  proposition 
were  short  and  to  the  point,  "an  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  city  and  garrison."  And  in  con- 
cluding his  letter  he  said,  "  I  have  no  other  terms 
than  those  indicated  above."  It  was  a  bitter  pill 
and  swallowed  with  a  wry  face,  but  the  heroic 
defenders  of  that  city  had  reason  to  feel  proud, 
even  in  their  humiliation,  for  the  manner  in 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  179 

which  they  had  defended  their  works  in  the 
fierce  assaults  which  had  been  hurled  against 
them.  . 

General  Bowen  having  sought  and  failed  to 
obtain  au  interview  with  General  Grant,  an  ar- 
rangement was  made  by  which  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  respective  forces  were  to  meet  at 
some  point  on  the  neutral  ground  that  afternoon 
at  3  o'clock.  At  the  appointed  hour  a  single  gun 
from  our  batteries,  and  a  reply  from  the  rebel 
works,  announced  the  conference  about  to-begin. 
Immediately  afterwards  General  Pemberton 
emerged  slowly  from  his  lines,  and  General 
Grant  rode  through  an  opening  in  our  trenches. 
The  officers  present  at  this  interview  were  Gen- 
erals Grant,  McPherson  and  A.  J.  Smith  on  the 
part  of  the  United  States;  and  Generals  Pem- 
berton and  Bowen  and  Col.  Montgomery  on  the 
part  of  the  rebels.  The  conference  was  not  pro- 
ductive of  definite  results. 

After  this  the  correspondence  was  renewed, 
and  terms  of  capitulation  finally  agreed  on,  sub- 
stantially the  same  as  those  suggested  by  Gen. 
Grant  at  first,  and  the  city,  with  its  garrison  and 
public  stores,  was  ours.  In  compliance  with  the 
terms  agreed  upon,  our  troops  took  formal  pos- 
session of  the  city  at  10  o'clock  A.M.,  July  4, 1863, 
and  at  twelve  o'clock  M.,  the  Flag  of  our  Union 
floated  proudly  and  triumphantly  from  the 
dome  of  the  court  house,  from  which  it  had 


180  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

been  torn  by  rebellious  hands  more  than  two 
years  before.  That  Fourth  of  July  was  a  gay 
and  glorious  Fourth  for  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee. At  night,  rockets,  bonfires,  illumina- 
tions and  music  enlivened  the  closing  scenes  of 
the  great  struggle,  making  us  forget  for  the  time 
being,  the  toils  and  perils  and  privations  from 
which  we  .had  just  emerged. 

In  the  "  Vicksburg  Daily  Citizen  "  of  July  2d, 
printed  on  the  plain  side  of  a  piece  of  wall-paper, 
appeared  the  following : 

"ON  BIT  —  that  the  great  Ulysses — the  Yan- 
kee generalissimo  surnamed  Grant,  has  expressed 
his  intention  of  dining  in  Vicksburg  on  Satur- 
day next,  and  celebrating  the  Fourth  of  July  by 
a  grand  dinner,  etc.  When  asked  if  he  would 
invite  General  Jo  Johnston  to  join  him,  he  said, 
'  No,  for  fear  there  will  be  a  row  at  the  table.' 
Ulysses  must  get  into  the  city  before  he  dines  in 
it.  The  way  to  cook  a  rabbit  is  first  to  catch 
the  rabbit,  etc." 

On  the  same  sheet  appeared  the  following  note 
under  date  of  July  4th,  evidently  inserted  by 
one  of  "Lincoln's  hirelings:" 

"Two  days  bring  great  changes.  The  banner 
of  the  Union  floats  over  Vicksburg.  General 
Grant  has  "  caught  the  rabbit,"  he  has  dined  in 
Vicksburg,  and  he  did  bring  his  dinner  with 
him.  The  "  Citizen "  lives  to  see  it.  For  the 
last  time  it  appears  on  wall-paper.  No  more 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  181 

will  it  eulogize  the  luxury  of  mule  meat  and 
fricasseed  kitten — urge  southern  warriors  to 
such  diet  nevermore.  This  is  the  last  wall-paper 
edition,  and  is,  excepting  this  note,  from  the 
types  as  we  found  them.  It  will  be  valuable 
hereafter  as  a  curiosity." 

It  has  been  said  that  the  garrison  at  Vicksburg 
were  reduced  to  great  straits  for  want  of  rations. 
In  order  to  show  that  this  impression  was  wrong, 
we  insert  the  following  bill  of  fare,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  picked  up  inside  the  rebel 
lines.  It  shows  that  they  had  an  abundance  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  and  some  of  the  luxuries. 
And  the  charges  were  so  moderate  that  any 
soldier  could  enjoy  the  dainties  of  the  house  at 
pleasure : 

HOTEL    DE   VICKSBURG. 


Bill  of  Fare  for  July,  1868. 

SOUP. 
Mule  Tail. 

BOILED. 

Mule  Bacon,  with  poke  greens. 
Mule  Ham,  canvassed. 

BOAST. 

Mule  Sirloin. 
Mule  Bump,  stuffed  with  rice. 

VEGETABLES. 

Peas  and  Rice. 


182  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


ENTREES. 

Mule  Head,  stuffed  a  la  mode. 

Mule  Ears,  fricasseed  a  la  got'ch. 

Mule  Side,  stewed,  new  style,  hair  on. 

Mule  Beef,  jerked,  a  la  Mexicana. 


Mule  Spare  Ribs,  plain. 

Mule  Salad. 
Mule  Tongue,  cold,  a  la  Bray. 


Mule  Liver,  hashed. 
Mule  Brains,  a  la  omelette. 
Mule  Hoof,  soused. 


Mule  Kidneys,  stuffed  with  peas. 
Mule  Tripe,  fried  in  pea-meal  batter. 

JELLIES. 
Mule  Foot. 

PASTRY. 

Cottonwood  Berry  Pies. 
Chinaberry  Tarts. 


DESSERT. 


White  Oak  Acorns. 


Blackberry  Leaf  Tea. 


Beech  Nuts. 

Genuine  Confederate  Coffee. 


LIQUORS. 

Mississipps  Water,  vintage  of  1492.     Superior,  $3 

Limestone  Water,  late  importation.     Very  fine,  $2.75. 

Spring  Water,  Vicksburg  brand,  $1.50. 

at  all  hours. 


Gentlemen  to  wait  on  themselves.     Any  inattention  on 
the  part  of  servants  to  be  promptly  reported  at  the  office. 
JEFF.  DAVIS  &  Co.,  Proprietors. 

CARD.  —  The  proprietors  of  the  justly  celebrated  Hotel  de 
Vicksburg,  having  enlarged  and  refitted  the  same,  are  now 
prepared  to  accommodate  all  who  favor  them  with  a  call. 
Parties  arriving  by  the  Eiver  or  Grant's  inland  route,  will 
find  Grape,  Cannister  &  Co.'s  carriages  at  the  landing,  or  at 
any  depot  on  the  line  of  entrenchments.  Buck,  Ball  &  Co., 
take  charge  of  all  baggage.  No  effort  will  be  spared  to 
make  the  visit  of  all  as  interesting  as  possible. 

J.  D.  &  Co. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  183 

As  we  are  now  about  to  retire  from  active 
business  at  Vicksburg,  let  us  take  account  of 
stock,  as  follows : 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 

In  Acc't  with  Major  General  U.  S.  Grant,          DR. 

To    40,000  Rebel  loss,  from  May  1  to  May  18,  1863. 
31,220  Prisoners  captured  in  Vicksburg. 
5,000  Citizen  Prisoners. 
1,500  Women  and  Children. 
18,000  Prisoners  fit  for  duty. 
13,220  Sick  and  wounded  Prisoners. 
188  Siege  Guns. 
150  Field  Pieces. 

300  Rounds  of  ammunition  per  gun. 
35,000  Stands  of  small  arms  (good). 
30,000  Shot  Guns,  Squirrel  Rifles,  &c. 
4,000  Tents. 
1,500  Mules. 
1,000  Horses. 
200  Freight  Cars. 
30  Locomotives. 

Total  value  of  property  captured,  $12,000,0000. 


CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTH. 


JACKSON. 


)HUS  terminated  this  memorable  conflict 
for  the  possession  of  the  rebel  stronghold 
in  the  southwest,  and  thus  the  SIEGE  or 
VICKSBURG  passed  into,  and  became  a  part  of,  the 
permanent  history  of  the  country.  The  glo- 
rious consummation  was  hailed  with  acclama- 
tions of  joy  throughout  the  north,  while  it  fell 
like  an  unexpected  thunder-clap  upon  the  people 
of  the  south.  But  our  joy  at  the  success  of  our 
work  was  mingled  with  disappointment  and 
vexation.  For  forty-seven  long,  weary  days  and 
nights  we  had  either  charged  upon  the  works  or 
stood  upon  the  picket  line  or  worked  in  the 
trenches.  A  bloody  record  had  been  written  on 
those  hills.  And  yet  we,  of  the  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps,  were  not  permitted  to  go  inside 
and  see  the  prize  we  had  assisted  in  capturing. 

Scarcely  had  the  sound  of  our  artillery  died 
away  in  the  distance,  before  we  were  again  un- 
der marching  orders.  At  first  we  expected  to 
move  at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  4th, 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  185 

but  from  some  cause  unknown  to  us,  the  forward 
movement  did  not  commence  until  Sunday 
morning,  July  5th,  at  sunrise.  The  whole  col- 
umn was  in  motion  by  eight  o'clock  A.M.  The 
expedition  was  commanded  by  General  Sher- 
man, and  consisted  of  three  Army  Corps,  the 
Ninth,  Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth,  commanded 
respectively  by  Generals  Parke,  Ord  and  McPher- 
son.  We  were  now  playing  the  last  act  in  the 
bloody  drama  in  which  we  had  been  engaged  for 
the  last  six  months. 

The  weather  was  excessively  hot,  and  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  we  were  in  light 
marching  order,  many  of  the  men  fainted  and 
fell  by  the  way.  And  no  wonder.  We  had 
done  no  marching  for  several  weeks,  and  this 
laborious  march  was  too  much  for  us.  Water 
was  also  very  scarce,  and  a  great  deal  of  suffer- 
ing was  experienced  from  thirst.  But  a  soldier's 
life  is  a  life  of  endurance,  and  the  troops  com- 
posing that  army  forgot,  to  some  extent  at  least, 
their  toils  and  their  grievances,  and  trudged 
along  as  merrily  as  they  could  under  the  circum- 
stances. A  part  of  the  Seventy-Seventh  reached 
the  spot  selected  for  the  camp  about  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon,  and  from  that  time  until  after 
midnight  the  stragglers  kept  coming  in.  The 
next  day  we  rested.  It  was  on  this  march  that 
we  received  the  nattering  appellation  of  "  Smith's 

greyhounds." 

12 


186  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

On  the  morning  of  July  7th,  the  march  was 
resumed,  and  soon  after  we  passed  over  the 
battle  ground  of  Champion  Hills.  Here  we  saw 
evidences  of  the  fight  of  May  16th,  as  we  could 
not  see  them  on  the  day  of  the  conflict.  "  There 
was  much  here  to  interest  the  members  of 
Hovey's  Division.  There  nearly  fourteen  hun- 
dred of  their  comrades  had  fallen.  Each  one 
had  friends  and  companions  in  arms,  whose 
graves  they  sought  out  and  paid  their  last  tribute 
of  respect.  All  was  quiet.  Each  spoke  and 
walked  about,  as  if  he  moved  on  hallowed 
ground,  and  hallowed  it  was,  if  the  noblest  blood 
of  the  land  can  hallow  any  spot  of  creation, 
when  ebbing  from  wounds  received  in  defending 
liberty's  banner  and  liberty's  cause.  It  was  an 
impressive  sight  to  behold  the  bluff  and  har- 
dened soldier,  wipe  from  his  bronzed  cheek  the 
silent  tear.  They  visited  the  spot  where  their 
comrades  fell.  All  around  were  evidences  of  the 
fierce  conflict.  Each  tree,  log  and  bush  was 
scarred  and  torn  by  the  balls.  The  graves  were 
arranged  along  the  summit  of  the  hill.  In  many 
instances  officers  were  buried  in  the  same  grave 
with  the  common  soldier.  They  died  together, 
struggling  for  victory;  it  is  meet  that  they  should 
sleep  in  the  same  heroic  graves.  In  future  days, 
when  the  starry  folds  shall  float  over  this  united 
land,  honored  and  respected  by  all,  some  memo- 
rial may  be  raised  by  their  grateful  countrymen 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  187 

to  commemorate  their  deeds  of  valor  in  the 
greatest  of  the  battles  fought  for  the  possession 
of  Vicksburg." 

But  we  had  no  time  to  indulge  in  reminis- 
censes  of  the  past,  or  to  stand  regretfully  on  the 
graves  of  our  dead  comrades  at  Champion  Hills. 
Onward,  was  the  word,  and  Jackson  was  the 
goal.  At  night  the  Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth 
Army  Corps  formed  their  lines  of  battle,  expect- 
ing a  general  engagement  in  the  morning,  as  the 
enemy  was  only  a  short  distance  in  front  of  us. 
That  part  of  the  line  occupied  by  the  Seventy- 
Seventh,  was  in  a  cornfield,  and  the  corn  was  in 
good  roasting  ear  condition.  We  were  not  long 
in  gathering  the  crop  and  appropriating  it  to  our 
own  use.  We  then  cut  up  the  corn  by  the  roots, 
and  laying  the  stalks  lengthwise  in  the  furrows 
behind  our  stacks  of  guns,  made  a  bed  which 
answered  our  purpose  as  well  as  the  best  woven 
wire  mattrass  could  have  done.  That  night  we 
had  a  regular  old-fashioned  Mississippi  rain- 
storm. And  such  a  rain  !  It  beggars  descrip- 
tion. It  was  a  perfect  deluge  in  miniature. 
During  the  night  we  awoke  from  our  slumbers 
in  the  furrows,  to  find  high  water-mark  about 
half-way  up  our  sides.  There  were  nights  on 
this  march  when  we  found  a  scarcity  of  water, 
but  this  was  not  one  of  them.  We  pulled  our 
bed  and  bedding  out  of  the  ditch  and  laid  them 
on  higher  ground,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  night 


188  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

we  slept  on  the  ridges.  The  next  morning  that 
army  presented  an  appearance  which  would  defy 
all  the  descriptive  powers  of  the  poet  or  painter. 
Mud  and  water  were  our  boon  companions.  But 
we  were  disappointed  in  our  expectations  of  a 
battle,  and  continued  the  advance,  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy  in  front,  until  they  were  finally 
driven  within  their  defences  at  Jackson. 

We  were  now  ready  for  business  again.  The 
siege  of  Jackson  began,  properly  on  the  13th  of 
July,  our  lines  having  been  established  the  two 
preceding  days.  The  Seventy-Seventh  occupied 
a  position  supporting  Gen.  Lawler's  Brigade. 
We  were  within  easy  range  of  the  rebel  guns, 
and  the  shells  would  crash  through  the  trees  and 
burst  over  our  heads,  and  we  would  then  hear 
the  old  familiar  sounds,  "lay  down,"  "grab  a 
root,"  etc.  One  day  when  a  severe  cannonading 
opened  upon  us,  we  saw  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  gallop- 
ing to  the  front  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  carry 
him.  He  was  always  on  hand  when  there  was 
any  work  to  do.  His  aids  and  orderlies  found  it 
impossible  to  keep  pace  with  him.  At  another 
time  when  everything  was  comparatively  quiet 
on  both  sides  of  the  line,  Gen.  Osterhaus  went  to 
the  front  to  see  how  the  boys  were  getting  along. 
Sitting  down  in  the  trenches  facing  the  rebel 
works,  he  remarked,  "  I  takes  a  front  seat." 
Just  then  a  shell  came  howling  overhead  and 
exploded  behind  the  general.  Quick  as  thought 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  189 

he  whirled  around  and  taking  a  seat  on  the  other 
side  of  the  trench,  he  said,  "  I  takes  a  pack  seat." 
The  men  hailed  the  movement  and  the  remark 
with  cheers  and  roars  of  laughter. 

The  siege  progressed  satisfactorily,  with  now 
and  then  a  sortie  by  the  rebels,  or  a  charge  by 
some  part  of  our  lines.  In  one  of  these  affairs 
Co.  "K"  had  a  sergeant  wounded  by  a  cannister 
shot,  and  a  private  in  Co.  "G"  was  severely 
wounded  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell.  Our  lines 
were  drawing  closer  and  closer  around  the  rebel 
works,  and  we  expected  soon  to  have  them  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides.  Gen.  Johnston,  fearing 
such  a  resultj  took  the  precaution  to  evacuate 
during  the  night  of  the  16th,  and  crossing  Pearl 
River  on  the  east,  made  good  his  escape.  As 
soon  as  this  fact  was  ascertained,  on  the  morning 
of  the  17th,  troops  were  marched  in,  and  formal 
possession  was  taken  of  the  city.  Jackson  was 
ours  a  second  time. 

On  Sunday,  the  19th  of  July,  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  Illinois  and  the  Ninty-Sixth  Ohio  Regi- 
ments, were  ordered  to  march  a  few  miles  south 
of  Jackson  for  the  purpose  of  tearing  up  and 
destroying  a  section  of  the  New  Orleans,  Jack- 
son and  Great  Northern  Railroad.  When  we 
reached  the  point  designated,  it  was  found  that 
other  troops  had  been  there  and  accomplished 
the  work  we  had  been  sent  to  do.  We  remained 
there  that  night,  and  in  the  morning  proceeded 


190  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

to  a  place  called  By  ram,  about  seven  miles  fur- 
ther south,  where  we  arrived  at  9  o'clock  A.  M. 
Going  to  work  with  a  will,  we  succeeded  during 
the  day  in  destroying  about  two  miles  of  track, 
burning  the  ties  and  bending  the  rails.  Having 
accomplished  our  mission  we  retired,  as  we  sup- 
posed, for  a  good  night's  rest  after  the  toils  of 
the  day.  But  scarcely  had  we  turned  in,  when 
an  orderly  came  from  Gen.  Smith  with  orders  to 
return  to  Jackson  immediately,  and  be  ready  to 
march  for  Vicksburg  at  three  o'clock  the  next 
morning. 

The  first  duty  of  a  good  soldier  is  obedience  to 
orders,  and  accordingly  all  we  had  to  do  was  to 
obey.  We  took  up  our  line  of  march  and  re- 
traced our  steps,  arriving  in  camp  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  We  pursued  the  march 
and  made  our  advent  into  camp  with  the  most 
unearthly  howls  and  yells  that  ever  waked  the 
midnight  slumbers  of  the  Mississippi  forests.  So 
great  was  the  noise  and  confusion  that  some  of 
the  troops,  thinking  a  rebel  host  was  about  to 
pounce  upon  them,  sprang  half  asleep  from  their 
beds  and  seized  their  arms,  ready  to  repel  the 
impending  attack.  Finding  it  to  be  a  false  alarm, 
they  returned  to  their  downy  pillows,  muttering 
something  about  "  needless  alarms,"  "  fools  in 
disguise,"  "  rather  a  thin  joke,"etc.  Those  of 
us  who  had  created  all  this  uproar  sought  con. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  191 

venieut  places  to  lie  down,  and  were  soon  in 
blissful  ignorance  of  war's  alarms. 

After  sleeping  two  or  three  hours,  we  scratched 
out  again  and  prepared  for  another  march  of 
fifty  miles.  On  the  return  we  again  came  to 
Champion  Hills,  and  the  Seventy-Seventh 
camped  on  the  ground  over  which  they  marched 
on  the  16th  of  May.  At  night  we  had  orders  to 
have  our  breakfast  over  by  daylight  in  the  morn- 
ing, in  order  to  get  an  early  start.  This  order 
was  complied  with  by  most  of  us,  but  there  was 
one  who  did  not  comply  with  it.  One  of  the 
boys  in  Co.  "I"  slept  until  all  the  others  had 
their  breakfast.  As  it  would  never  do  to  start 
on  a  long  march  under  a  burning  sun  with  an 
empty  stomach,  he  proceeded  to  cook  his  break- 
fast, and  having  done  so,  very  coolly  sat  down 
on  a  log,  and  laying  his  hat  on  one  side  of  him, 
his  tin  cup  of  coffee  on  the  other  and  his  tin 
plate  on  his  knees,  went  to  work  on  his  morning 
repast.  By  this  time  the  Regiment  was  in  line 
ready  to  march.  Colonel  Grier  was  sitting  on  his 
horse  and  was  just  on  the  point  of  giving  the 
command  "forward"  when  he  saw  our  hero  sit- 
ting on  the  log,  and  asked,  "H ,  what  are  you 

doing?"  He  replied,  "  I'm  eating  my  breakfast." 
u  All  right,"  said  the  colonel,  "  eat  your  break- 
fast ;  we  '11  wait  for  you."  And  we  did  wait,  and 

it  was  many  a  day  before  H heard  the  last 

of  it. 


192  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

On  this  march  the  boys  made  a  business  of 
confiscating  "  abandoned  property,"  that  is,  they 
would  pick  up  all  the  old  plugs  of  mules  and 
horses  they  could  find  in  the  country,  and  mount- 
ing them,  they  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  Regi- 
ment. It  is  probably  safe  to  say  that  by  the 
time  we  arrived  at  Black  River  one-half  of  our 
men  were  mounted.  It  looked  as  though  we 
had  a  cavalry  escort  or  guard  of  honor,  conduct- 
ing us  back  to  Vicksburg. 

At  last,  at  about  ten  oclock  on  the  night  of 
July  23d  we  reached  our  old  quarters  in  the 
ravine,  footsore  and  weary.  We  now  felt  that 
our  work,  for  the  present,  was  done  ;  and  we  felt 
an  honest  pride^n  believing  it  well  done.  Soon 
after  our  return  we  were  removed  to  the  river 
bank,  about  two  miles  below  the  city.  We  were 
now  permitted  to  rest  and  recuperate  for  a  time, 
after  more  than  six  months  of  almost  incessant 
toil.  The  weather  was  very  hot,  and  we  built 
small  sheds  and  other  contrivances  to  protect  us 
from  the  scorching  sun.  Our  duties  were  light, 
compared  with  our  past  experience.  We  had 
company  drill  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  dress  parade  at  six  o'clock  P.M.  The  rest 
of  the  time  we  enjoyed  life  as  best  we  could. 

On  Sunday  the  second  day  of  August,  Chap- 
lain Pierce  preached  a  good  sermon  to  us,  and 
we  all  enjoyed  it  very  much.  At  the  close  of 
the  services  he  administered  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  many  of  those  bronzed 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  193 

men  partook  of  the  elements  representing  the 
broken  body  and  shed  blood  of  Christ,  for  the 
first  time  since  leaving  home.  It  was  good  to 
be  there.  Many  a  fervent  heart  was  raised  in 
thankfulness  to  the  God  of  battles  for  the  vic- 
tories which  had  crowned  our  arms.  We  also 
attended  church  in  the  city  as  we  had  oportu- 
nity.  Rev.  Dr.  Russell,  of  the  U.  S.  Christian 
Commission,  preached  a  thanksgiving  sermon  in 
the  Walnut  Street  Presbyterian  church,  on  the 
6th  of  August,  from  these  appropriate  words : 
"  Thy  right  hand,  0  Lord,  is  become  glorious  in 
power;  thy  right  hand,  0  Lord,  hath  dashed  in 
pieces  the  enemy."  Ex.  15  : 6. 

Soon  after  our  return  from  Jackson,  the  army 
was  partially  reorganized,  preparatory  to  new 
campaigns.  The  Thirteenth  Arm}*  Corps  was  still 
under  the  command  of  Major  General  E.  O.  C. 
Ord,  and  consisted  of  four  Divisions — the  First, 
Second,  Third  and  Fourth,  commanded  respect- 
ively by  Generals  Washburn,  Herron,  Hovey 
and  Burbridge.  The  First  Brigade  of  the  Fourth 
Division  consisted  of  the  23d  Wisconsin,  the 
16th,  60th  and  67th  Indiana,  the  83d  and  96th 
Ohio  regiments  and  the  17th  Ohio  battery.  The 
Second  Brigade  consisted  of  the  77th,  97th  and 
130  Illinois,  the  48th  Ohio  and  the  19th  Ken- 
tucky regiments  and  the  Mercantile  battery  of 
Chicago.  Our  old  Division  Commander,  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith,  went  north  to  enter  some  other 
field  of  service.  We  had  been  with  him  ever 


194  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

since  we  entered  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and 
had  learned  to  love  him;  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  under  his  leadership  we  had  been  called 
"nigger  thieves"  and  "  greyhounds."  But  that 
was  not  the  last  we  heard  of  A.  J.  Smith.  On 
other  hard-fought  fields  he  made  his  presence 
known;  and  the  campaign  on  Red  River, 
and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Mobile  bear  wit- 
ness to  hjs  abilities  as  an  officer. 

While  we  were  enjoying  ourselves  in  camp  on 
the  banks  of  the  great  river,  Col.  Grier  sent  the 
following  letter  to  the  Soldier's  Aid  Society,  at 
Peoria,  which  shows  that  the  Seventy-Seventh 
was  not  idle  at  Jackson. 

VICKSBURG,  July  25,  1863. 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SOLDIERS'  AID  ) 
SOCIETY,  PEORIA,  ILLINOIS,     j 

At  the  capture  of  the  city  of  Jackson, 
Miss.,  by  the  United  States  forces  on  the  16th 
of  July,  1863,  the  77th  Regiment  was  among 
the  first  regiments  that  entered  the  city,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  from  the  enemy  a  stand 
of  their  national  colors.  Allow  me,  on  behalf 
of  the  Regiment,  to  present  your  society  with 
those  colors  as  a  slight  token  of  our  appreciation 
of  the  many  great  benefits  you  have  conferred 
on  the  Regiment  since  our  entering  the  service 
of  our  country. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  serv't, 
D.  P.  GRIER, 

Col.  77th  Ittinois. 


CHAPTER  THE  NINTH. 


CARROLLTON. 


?ICKSBURG!  What  thrilling  recollec- 
tions cluster  about  the  name !  The 
weary  march — the  hunger,  thirst  and 
fatigue  —  the  rapid  and  resistless  advance — the 
successful  investment  of  the  rebel  works  by  an 
impenetrable  line  of  troops  —  the  bloody,  hard- 
fought  battles  —  the  daring  but  unsuccessful 
assault  —  the  high-noon  and  midnight  labor  in 
the  trenches  —  the  watchfulness  and  weariness 
—  the  laborious  and  long-continued  siege  —  the 
final  capture  of  the  place  on  the  ever-memorable 
Fourth  of  July  —  these,  and  similar  events,  will 
ever  be  remembered  with  patriotic  pride  by  all 
who  participated  in  them. 

But  we  were  now  about  to  bid  adieu  to  those 
historic  scenes.  A  new  field  was  opening  before 
us,  and  on  the  25th  of  August,  we  struck  tents 
and  went  aboard  the  steamer  "  Atlantic,"  bound 
for  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  At  11  o'clock 
p.  M.,  we  cast  loose  from  our  moorings  and  started 
down  the  river.  On  the  way  we  touched  at  PORT 
HUDSON,  a  name  which  has  become  historical. 


196  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

As  we  looked  upon  the  forbidding  battlements 
and  frowning  guns  at  this  place,  we  were  com- 
pelled" to  admire  the  daring  courage  and  endur- 
ance which  had  invested,  stormed,  besieged  and 
finally  captured  this  rebel  stronghold.  All  honor 
to  the  sons  of  New  England  for  their  heroic 
achievements !  At  Port  Hudson  and  Vicksburg 
the  armies  of  the  East  and  the  West,  met  and 
congratulated  each  other  upon  their  successful 
operations.  After  long  sieges  and  laborious 
campaigns,  they  had  succeeded  in  opening  the 
Mississippi  to  the  wants  of  commerce.  And 
they  rejoiced  at  the  thought  that  now,  hence- 
forth and  forever,  the  richly  freighted  argosies 
of  the  South  and  West,  should  be  borne  undis- 
turbed on  its  tranquil  bosom.  Let  not  the  critic, 
then,  charge  with  egotism  those  men,  who,  after 
having  endured  so  much,  felt  an  honest  pride 
that  they  had  contributed  something  to  accom- 
plish these  great  results. 

After  a  pleasant  trip  of  thirty-two  hours,  we 
landed  at  Carrol Iton,  La.,  a  suburb  of  New  Or- 
leans. Our  encampment  at  this  place  was  on  the 
Champ  de  Mars,  near  the  New  Orleans  and  Car- 
rollton  Railroad,  and  seven  miles  from  the  city. 
This  was  a  beautiful  open  plat  of  ground,  and 
was  known  as  "  Camp  Lewis "  in  confederate 
times.  Here  we  expected  to  rest,  recuperate  and 
have  a  grand  review,  preparatory  to  future  move- 
ments. Most  of  the  troops  previously  in  this 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  197 

vicinity,  had  been  sent  forward,  so  that  the  Thir- 
teenth Army  Corps,  might  be  said  to  have  full 
possession.  Soon  after  our  arrival,  we  received 
orders  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  march  at 
twelve  hours'  notice.  On  the  29th  we  had  a  re- 
view on  a  small  scale  before  Gen.  Banks,  and  we 
confidently  expected  soon  to  take  up  the  line  of 
march,  without  the  pleasure  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  the  people  in  the  city.  In  this, 
however,  we  were  agreeably  disappointed. 

As  might  be  expected,  we  made  frequent  appli- 
cations for  "  passes  "  to  visit  the  city  and  sur- 
rounding country.  And  it  must  be  said  that  our 
officers  were  more  indulgent  than  usual  in  grant- 
ing these  privileges.  We  took  in  all  the  points 
of  interest.  The  battle-ground,  famous  in 
American  history,  where  the  English  forces  met 
with  such  a  crushing  defeat  in  1815  —  the  beau- 
tiful cemeteries  in  and  around  the  city  —  Lake 
Pontchartrain,  etc.,  all  received  a  due  share  of 
attention.  In  short,  we  had  a  good  time  gener- 
ally, and  enjoyed  ourselves  fully  as  well  as  we 
did  on  the  march  from  Milliken's  Bend. 

On  the  fourth  of  September,  General  Grant 
having  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  reviewed  the 
Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  in  company  with  Gen- 
eral Banks  and  Adjutant  General  Thomas.  It 
was  an  imposing  display,  probably  not  less  than 
fifteen  thousand  troops  being  on  review,  includ- 
ing infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery.  In  speaking 


198  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

on  this  subject,  we  can  do  no  better  than  copy 
the  following  account  from  the  New  Orleans  Era : 

"According  to  the  announcement  in  the  city 
papers,  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Major 
General  Washburn,  now  stationed  at  Champ  de 
Mars,  near  Carrollton,  were  reviewed  by  Generals 
Banks  and  Grant,  at  an  early  hour  yesterday 
morning.  The  men  under  review  were  the  war- 
scarred  veterans,  who  left  the  pleasant  scenes  of 
their  homes  in  every  part  of  the  Union,  to  hew 
their  way  to  the  Gulf  with  their  swords.  Every 
Division,  Brigade  and  Regiment,  as  it  filed  past 
the  generals  surrounded  by  their  staff's,  showed 
the  results  of  skillful  training,  while  the  ani- 
mation that  gleamed  from  the  bronzed  faces  of 
these  veterans,  gave  evidence  that  they  were 
conscious  of  the  distinguished  presence  in  which 
they  were  marching. 

"In  the  array  of  officers  and  men  who  met 
together  on  the  Champ  de  Mars,  the  city  of  New 
Orleans  could  behold  a  portion  of  the  deliverers 
of  the  Mississippi.  The  opening  of  the  great 
inland  sea  required  great  men  and  stout  soldiers; 
and  to  the  credit  of  our  country  let  it  be  said, 
the  right  men  were  found  for  the  work.  Upon 
the  appearance  of  Generals  Banks  and  Grant, 
accompanied  by  their  respective  staffs,  they  were 
greeted  with  three  hearty  cheers  by  the  whole 
line  of  men  under  arms.  The  two  generals  were 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  199 

surrounded  by  their  respective  staffs,  and  pre- 
sented altogether  a  very  brilliant  appearance. 

"  The  review  was  what  might  be  reasonably 
expected  from  the  tried  troops  in  the  presence  of 
two  distinguished  generals.  The  Division, 
Brigade  and  Regimental  officers  handled  their 
men  with  more  military  precision  than  might 
have  been  witnessed  on  the  same  field  two  years 
ago,  when  an  attempt  was  made  by  one  or  two 
Louisiana  militia  generals  to  review  raw  recruits, 
who  had  never  seen  even  a  skirmish,  and  many 
of  whom  are  still  innocent  of  the  blood  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  United  States. 

"  The  heat  of  the  day  was  so  intense  that 
many  of  the  old  citizens  of  New  Orleans  were 
glad  to  retire  to  some  friendly  shade;  and  yet 
the  troops  showed  no  signs  of  distress,  nor  even 
inconvenience.  Such  is  the  result  of  being 
inured  to  exposure.  These  men,  coming  from  a 
northern  climate,  endured  a  heat  whch  even  an 
acclimated  person  gladly  avoids.  A  heartier  or 
more  robust  set  of  men  probably  never  passed 
in  review  under  the  critical  eyes  of  generals  who 
have  performed  great  deeds,  and  who  have  more 
yet  to  do.  It  was  apparent  to  the  most  superfi- 
cial observer  that  the  parade  was  no  training- 
day  display.  The  two  generals,  their  respective 
staffs,  the  general,  field  and  regimental  officers, 
the  men  themselves  had  the  bearing  of  the  true 
soldier,  and  the  to  at  ensemble  was  suggestive  of 


200  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

genius,  discipline  and  backbone.  Whatever  du- 
ties may  be  required  of  Generals  Banks  and 
Grant  to  perform,  the  country  can  rest  assured 
will  be  well  performed.  Whatever  work  it  may 
have  for  that  army  to  do,  under  either  or  both 
these,  will  be  well  done.  It  has  been  the  fortune 
of  the  two  generals  to  lead  men  through  diffi- 
culties and  dangers  which  might  appal  the  man 
who  obtains  his  ideas  of  human  endurance 
from  theory  alone.  They  have  demonstrated 
that  there  is  no  such  word  as  fail,  for  those  who 
are  determined  to  succeed.  It  was  a  proud  priv- 
ilege to  stand  on  that  animated  field  yesterday 
and  say :  '  These  are  American  generals  and 
American  troops,  whose  deeds  are  about  to  be 
enrolled  on  the  scroll  of  immortal  fame,  and 
America  is  my  country.'  The  traitors  to  our 
flag,  even,  must  have  rejoiced  that  their  pseudo 
friends  had  been  overcome  by  men  who  have 
shown  such  bravery  in  arms  and  such  mercy  and 
moderation  in  victory." 

"  Terrible  as  an  army  with  banners  —  if  those 
banners  are  torn  by  the  shot  and  shell  of  a  score 
of  battles.  Belmont,  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Arkan- 
sas Post,  Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Cham- 
pion Hills,  Big  Black,  Vicksburg — these  names 
were  written  in  bullet  holes  on  those  dear,  seedy 
old  rags.  No  bunting  gay  with  new  beauty 
could  be  so  gorgeous  as  these  to  the  thoughtful 
eye.  It  is  not  surprising  that  General  Banks 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  201 

lifted  his  hat  with  real  reverence  when  these 
historic  colors  dipped  to  him  as  he  passed.  A 
brave  man  himself,  he  knows  the  honor  which 
is  due  to  the  emblems  of  courage." 

Soon  after  the  review  closed,  our  camp  was 
thrown  into  a  deep  gloom,  by  a  report  that  Gen. 
Grant  had  been  thrown  from  his  horse  and 
killed.  We  soon  learned,  however,  that  although 
he  had  been  injured  by  the  accident,  his  injuries 
were  not  serious.  We  felt  much  relieved  at  this 
intelligence,  and  hoped  that  we  might  soon  be 
led  to  victory  again  under  his  command.  It 
must  be  confessed  that  we  had  but  little  faith  in 
political  generals,  and  the  subsequent  experience 
of  the  regiment  proved  this  lack  of  faith  well 
founded. 

In  this  connection  let  us  introduce  a  character 
which  has  not  hitherto  figured  in  these  pages  to 
any  great  extent,  but  which,  at  the  same  time, 
deserves  an  immortality  of  fame. 

Brigadier  General  M.  K.  Lawler  was  an  im- 
portant individual — a  man  of  some  consequence 
in  his  own  estimation,  if  not  in  ours.  He  was 
famous  for  his  rotundity  of  stomach  and  his 
keen  appreciation  of  good  living.  He*wore  a 
blue  checkered  shirt,  a  pair  of  loosely-fitting, 
grey  pantaloons,  a  blouse  that  hung  about  his 
shoulders  without  any  definite  object  in  view, 
and  the  who^e  costume  was  surmounted  by  an 

old  battered  hat  which  had   seen    hard  service 
13 


202  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

and  rough  usage.  The  glowing  appearance  of 
his  countenance  indicated  an  acquaintance  with 
bacchanalian  festivities,  but  of  course  we  at- 
tributed the  rosy  tint  of  his  frontispiece  to  natu- 
ral causes,  not  supposing  for  a  moment  that  he 
would  drink  anything  stronger  than  cold  water. 
At  the  same  time  it  was  strongly  intimated  that 
he  was  as  good  a  judge  of  "commissary"  as  any 
member  of  his  personal  staff.  Such  was  the 
man,  who,  for  a  brief  period  commanded  the 
Fourth  Division  of  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps. 
And  such  was  the  man  who  will  never  be  for- 
gotten by  certain  members  of  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  Regiment,  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance. 

One  day,  as  this  famous  general  was  riding 
through  the  camp  in  company  with  a  captain  — 
a  member  of  his  military  family  —  he  ap- 
proached a  juvenile  specimen  of  the  African 
race,  who  was  amusing  himself  in  the  following 
manner:  He  had  procured  a  lot  of  damaged 
cartridges,  and  being  naturally  of  a  martial  turn 
of  mind,  was  studying  the  art  of  building 
and  destroying  fortifications.  He  would  build 
these  wSrks  on  a  small  scale,  and  having  done 
so,  would  dig  a  mine  and  deposit  a  charge  of 
powder.  In  the  present  instance  the  charge  was 
planted,  the  train  laid,  the  match  applied,  and 
just  as  the  general  was  passing  .the  fire  had 
reached  its  destination  and  up  went  the  Afri- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  203 

can's  miniature  Fort  Hill.  The  general's  horse, 
a  restless  animal,  not  being  particularly  fond 
of  such  exhibitions,  sprang  aside,  almost  un- 
horsing his  rider.  The  commander's  wrath  rose 
to  the  boiling  point,  and  he  ordered  the  captain 
to  dismount  and  give  the  hopeful  youth  a  casti- 
gation,  which  was  done  with  a  hearty  good  will. 
The  two  officers  then  rode  off,  the  general  giving 
a  parting  broadside  in  this  happy  style :  "There, 
you  little  black  d — I,  take  that." 

On  the  .morning  of  September  12th,  some  of 
our  boys  made  a  "  charge  "  on  the  Provost  Mar- 
shal's office,  not  knowing  who  occupied  the 
building,  and  perhaps  not  caring  very  much. 
The  "provo"  was  up  stairs  asleep  at  the  time, 
but  the  boys  were  in  blissful  ignorance  of  this 
fact.  As  they  were  marching  off  with  their 
plunder,  consisting  of  office  stationery,  including 
official  envelopes,  legal  cap,  foolscap,  letter 
paper,  etc.,  spring-bottom  chairs  and  other  fur- 
niture of  costly  pattern,  some  of  them  were  ar- 
rested by  the  provost  guards,  the  others  making 
their  escape.  The  recaptured  property  was 
restored  to  the  office,  and  the  captured  guilty 
ones  were  marched  off  to  the  headquarters  of 
Brigadier  General  Lawler,  to  be  disposed  of  as 
that  officer  might  direct.  The  general  ordered 
them  to  be  armed  with  sticks  of  cordwood  and 
marched  through  the  Division  at  shouldered 
arms.  This  performance  was  more  amusing  to 


204  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

the  spectators  than  to  the  performers,  although 
Lew  and  Jake,  of  Company  "  I,"  and  one  or 
two  others,  seemed  to  enjoy  it  very  much. 

After  having  marched  the  boys  all  through 
the  Division,  the  guards  returned  with  their 
charge  to  headquarters.  Here  the  general  drilled 
them  in  the  manual  of  arms,  and  the  different 
commands  "shoulder  arms,"  "order  arms," 
"ground  arms,"  "raise  arms,"  "shoulder  arms," 
"  right  shoulder  shift  arms,"  "  shoulder  arms," 
"  present  arms,"  "  shoulder  arms,"  "  order  arms," 
"  stack  arms,"  "  take  arms,"  etc.,  were  executed 
with  a  neatness  and  dispatch  unequaled,  consid- 
ering the  kind  of  arms  used  on  the  occasion. 
The  general  expressed  himself  perfectly  satisfied 
with  their  progress  in  the  "  school  of  the  sol- 
dier," and  having  worked  himself  into  a  per- 
spiration, he  gave  the  welcome  command  "break 
ranks,  MARCH."  As  they  were  marching  away,  a 
lady  —  secesh,  perhaps  —  called  out  from  an  ad- 
joining residence,  "  Steal  again,  will  you  ?"  and 
"  steal  again,  will  you  ?  "  was  a  by-word  in  the 
Regiment  for  a  long  time  afterwards. 


CHAPTER  THE  TENTH. 


BAYOU    TECHE. 


S  WE  had  now  been  more  than  a  month 
at  Carrollton,  had  undergone  two  reviews 
and  several  inspections,  had  taken  in  the 
city  and  seen  the  sights,  it  became  necessary 
to  think  about  changing  our  base.  Accordingly 
on  the  evening  of  October  3d,  we  went  aboard 
the  steamer  "North  America,"  and,  after  a 
pleasant  sail,  landed  at  the  railroad  station  in 
Algiers  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
about  ten  miles  below  our  encampment.  At 
eleven  o'clock  p.  M.,  we  went  aboard  the  cars,  or 
rather,  were  piled  in,  as  Col.  Webb  said,  "like  a 
lot  of  hogs."  We  had  nothing  but  flat-cars,  and 
a  night  ride  of  eighty  miles  in  that  shape,  was 
neither  pleasant  nor  entertaining.  However, 
with  our  usual  good  luck,  we  reached  Brashear 
City  the  next  morning  at  sunrise.  We  crossed 
to  the  opposite  side  of  Berwick  Bay,  on  the 
steamer  "  St.  Charles,"  and  went  into  camp. 
And  here  we  had  the  pleasure  of  serving  up  our 


206  TfiE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

oysters  on  the  half-shell.  There  were  many  ru- 
mors in  camp  as  usual,  but  we  concluded  to  keep 
still  and  wait  for  developments. 

The  developments  came  on  the  morning  of  the 
7th,  in  the  shape  of  an  order,  which  said,  "for- 
ward" or  words  to  that  effect.  That  day  we 
marched  about  eighteen  miles,  and  camped  at 
night  on  the  battle-ground  of  Bisland,  where 
the  Army  of  the  Gulf  had  defeated  the  rebel 
forces  under  Dick  Taylor,  on  the  13th  of  April. 
We  continued  the  march  the  next  day,  and  until 
noon  of  the  9th,  when  we  found  ourselves  within 
a  mile  of  New  Iberia,  having  marched  fifty  miles 
in  two  days  and  a  half.  Here  we  rested  a  short 
time,  when  an  order  came  for  the  77th  Illinois, 
48th  Ohio  and  19th  Kentucky,  to  take  the  back 
track  —  a  track  we  did  not  like  to  take  —  and  go 
into  camp  at  Franklin,  twenty-seven  miles  to  the 
rear,  where  we  arrived  on  the  morning  of  the 
eleventh,  somewhat  jaded  and  a  good  deal  out 
of  humor. 

We  found  the  country  along  the  Bayou  Teche, 
one  of  the  richest  and  most  beautiful  portions  of 
Louisiana  we  had  yet  seen.  Large  and  fertile 
plantations  reached  back  as  far  as  the  vision 
extended,  while  handsome  residences,  almost 
hidden  behind  the  dark  green  foilage  of  trees 
peculiar  to  the  south,  fronted  on  the  bayou,  and 
long  rows  of  orange  trees,  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  almost  bending  under  their  loads  of  lus- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  207 

cious  fruit,  lined  the  road  along  which  we  passed. 
Cattle  and  sheep,  as  well  as  the  agricultural  pro- 
ducts of  the  country  abounded,  and  it  must  not 
be  supposed  that  we  had  been  so  long  in  the 
service,  without  learning  how  to  supply  our 
temporal  wants  while  passing  through  a  rich 
country,  with  a  failing  commissary  on  our  hands. 
General  Grant  had  taught  us  a  few  lessons  on 
that  important  subject,  and  we  were  very  apt 
scholars.  An  extract  from  a  letter  written  by 
one  of  the  boys  while  in  camp  at  Franklin,  will 
show  how  we  enjoyed  ourselves : 

"•  I  presume  there  is  not  a  noisier  regiment  in 
the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps  than  the  Seventy- 
Seventh,  especially  on  the  march.  When  we 
first  carne  to  this  place,  very  strict  orders  were 
issued  against  pillaging,  destroying  buildings,  etc. 
This  did  well  enough  so  long  as  we  had  good 
weather.  But  last  Friday  we  had  a  heavy  rain, 
and  as  we  had  nothing  but  rail  pens  to  live  in, 
we  got  very  wet.  We  thought  this  way  of  liv- 
ing would  hardly  pay,  and  the  next  day  we  went 
to  a  large  barn  about  a  mile  from  camp,  and  the 
way  we  made  the  lumber  fly  was  a  caution.  We 
tore  off  all  the  siding,  floors,  etc.,  hauled  the 
lumber  to  camp,  and  built  tolerably  comfort- 
able quarters.  Just  as  we  were  leaving 
with  the  last  load,  the  guards  came  to  protect 
the  property,  but  they  were  too  late.  They  suc- 
ceeded, however,  in  arresting  some  of  the 


208  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

offenders  from  the  regiment.  We  have  some 
gay  times  in  the  army,  and  I  venture  to  say  that 
whoever  lives  to  see  the  Seventy-Seventh  re- 
turn to  Peoria,  will  see  a  high  day."  It  may  be 
said  here  in  passing,  that  when  guards  were  sent 
to  protect  property  and  arrest  the  offenders,  they 
were  almost  always  too  late  to  accomplish  those 
objects.  And  why  not?  They  did  not  know 
how  soon  it  would  be  their  turn  to  be  arrested. 
And  one  good  turn  deserves  another. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  flags  presented 
to  the  Regiment  before  leaving  home,  were  lost 
in  the  unsuccessful  charge  at  Vicksburg,  May 
22d,  1863.  The  ladies  of  Peoria,  not  satisfied 
with  their  previous  munificence,  very  generously 
replaced  these  flags  by  others  more  beautiful, 
more  costly,  and,  under  the  circumstances,  far 
more  acceptable  than  the  first.  The  flags  were 
presented  through  Colonel  Grier,  who  had  just 
returned  from  leave  of  absence.  The  following 
letter  which  accompanied  the  gift,  was  read  on 
dress  parade  on  the  evening  of  October  31st. 

COL.  D.  P.  GRIER,  77th  Ills.  Vols. 

SIR  :  To  you  and  your  noble  Regi- 
ment the  women  of  the  "  National  League " 
present  for  acceptance  our  beloved  country's 
ensign. 

"When  again  you  stand  at  the  head  of  your 
brave  column  and  unfurl  it  to  their  view,  tell 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  209 

them  it  was  sent  by  the  "Woman's  National 
League "  of  Peoria,  an  association  of  women 
upon  whose  record  stand  the  names  of  many 
near  and  dear  to  them,  and  of  others,  who, 
though  it  may  be,  are  personally  unknown  to 
them,  have  marked  with  gratitude  and  pride, 
their  unremitting  efforts  in  their  country's  ser- 
vice; an  association  calumniated  and  sneered  at 
by  the  traitors  of  the  North,  among  whom  even 
women  stand  enrolled.  Say  to  them  that  this 
association  has  adopted  as  its  motto,  "  uncondi- 
tional loyalty  to  the  powers  that  be,"  has  pledged 
its  members  to  bring  their  God-given  influence 
to  bear  against  treason  in  word  or  action,  at 
home  and  abroad,  and  to  give  aid  and  encour- 
agement to  our  honored  soldiers  whenever  and 
however  it  may  be  in  their  power. 

In  replacing  the  Flag  lost  under  circumstances 
of  so  much  daring  and  peril,  the  members  of  the 
"  Woman's  National  League  "  feel  that  they  are 
in  part  fulfilling  their  pledge,  and  are  making 
to  you  and  your  Regiment,  the  most  acceptable 
expression  of  their  sympathy  with,  and  appreci- 
ation of  your  valor. 

Accept  it,  then,  accompanied  with  the  earnest 
prayer  of  the  league  to  the  God  of  battles,  even 
He  who  ruleth  supreme  over  all,  that  He  will 
ever  be  with  you,  giving  you  in  conflict  the  vic- 
tory over  our  country's  enemies,  protecting  you 
in  the  hour  of  danger,  assuaging  suffering,  if 


210  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

suffering  there  must  be,  and  fitting  each  by  His 
Spirit,  through  the  merits  of  His  crucified  Son, 
for  mansions  in  Heaven. 

MRS.  A.  G.  CURTENIUS, 

President   W.  N.  L. 

PEORIA,  ILL.,  Sept.  7,  1863. 

The  flags  were  received  by  the  Regiment  with 
long,  loud  and  enthusiastic  cheers,  and, 

Pursuant  to  a  call  from  the  Colonel  of  the 
Regiment,  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  77th 
Reg't  111.  Vols.,  was  held  at  the  Regimental  Head- 
quarters at  Franklin,  La.,  on  the  31st  of  October, 
1863.  Col.  D.  P.  Grier  was  called  to  the  chair, 
and  Lieut.  H.  P.  Ay  res,  elected  secretary.  The 
chairman  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting  to  be 
the  expression  of  the  sentiments  of  the  regiment 
on  the  occasion  of  receiving  two  beautiful  flags 
from  the  "  Woman's  National  League "  and 
"Misses  Aid  Society"  of  Peoria,  which  had  been 
presented  on  dress  parade  the  same  day,  and  re- 
ceived by  the  Regiment  with  three  hearty  cheers. 

On  motion,  a  committee  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Major  Charles  Winnie,  Captain  John  A.  Burdett 
and  Lieut.  Henry  P.  Ayres,  were  appointed  to 
draft  resolutions  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the 
meeting. 

The  committee,  after  deliberation,  submitted 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions: 

WHEREAS,  on  the  twenty-second  of  May,  1863, 
while  engaged  in  that  unfortunate  charge  on  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  211 

rebel  works  at  Vicksburg,  our  flag  and  colors, 
planted  on  the  parapet,  and  defended  for  eight 
long  hours  against  a  murderous  fire  from  the 
enemy,  were  in  the  darkness,  and  during  a 
furious  onslaught  of  massed  numbers,  borne  oft' 
and  insulted  by  a  traitorous  foe;  and 

WHEREAS,  our  countrywomen,  the  loyal  ladies 
of  Peoria,  have  presented  to  our  Regiment, 
through  its  brave  and  talented  Colonel,  D.  P. 
Grier,  new  colors  and  a  new  flag,  whose  broad 
stripes  and  bright  stars  will  ever  cheer  us,  and 
to  which  we  shall  look  in  times  of  danger  as  the 
emblems  of  hope,  the  insignia  of  liberty,  thus 
showing  their  devotion  to  our  common  cause, 
and  that  they  are  mindful  of  the  brave  boys  who 
have  gone  at  their  country's  call;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  to  the  women  of  the  "  National 
League  "  and  the  misses  of  the  "  Aid  Society  " 
the  munificent  donors,  we  tender  our  grateful 
thanks  —  that  we  appreciate  the  gift  and  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  and  kindness  that  prompted 
it,  and  we  promise  as  we  hope  for  Heaven  and  as 
God  is  just,  that  never,  by  one  cowardly  act  on 
our  part,  shall  these  banners  be  dishonored,  but 
that  we  will  ever  be  true  to  our  country  and  our 
colors,  and  will  do  and  suffer  in  their  defence 
until  "Old  Glory"  waves  in  triumph  over  every 
stronghold  of  treason  and  rebellion,  and  as  we 
can  only  feel  that  the  colors  are  entrusted  as  a 
memento  of  confidence  and  respect  —  not  given, 


212  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

so  we  promise  that  when  our  country  shall  be 
reunited  and  peace  shall  reign  from  ocean  to 
ocean,  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf,  to  bring  back 
these  banners,  and  then  only  will  we  accept  them 
in  full,  when  each  star  represents  a  loyal  State. 
Then  we  can  feel  that  these  flags  are  fit  to  take 
the  place  of  the  old  ones,  which,  though  faded 
and  worn  by  service  on  the  well-fought  fields  of 
Post  Arkansas,  Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills, 
Black  River  Bridge  and  Vicksburg,  nevertheless 
were  dear  to  every  one  of  us. 

Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  "National 
League"  and  "Aid  Society"  as  auxiliaries  to 
our  cause,  and  powerful  agencies  for  restoring 
peace  and  unity  to  the  nation  by  sustaining  and 
encouraging  its  defenders  in  the  field — that  we 
endorse  their  motto  and  heartily  approve  their 
objects — that  we  are  proud  of  their  patriotism 
and  fidelity  to  our  Institutions  and  the  banner 
that  represents  them,  and  that  we  believe  that 
they,  and  similar  associations,  in  bringing  the 
powerful  influence  of  woman  to  bear  for  the 
cause  of  Liberty  and  Union,  are  golden  links  in 
the  chain  which  binds  the  hearts  of  all  loyal  men 
to  the  government  of  our  Fathers.  They  have 
placed  us  forever  under  obligations  to  defend, 
not  only  our  Country  against  traitors  from 
within  and  foes  without,  but  to  defend  them 
from  all  harm,  come  from  whatever  source  it 
may,  and  as  our  duty  to  our  country  is  our  duty 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  213 

to  our  God,  so  is  the  defence  of  our  Constitution 
and  Flag,  the  defence  of  our  mothers  and  sisters 
at  home. 

Resolved,  That  the  memory  of  the  noble 
women  of  the  "League"  and  no  less  patriotic 
Misses  of  the  "Aid  Society"  shall  ever  be  hal- 
lowed in  the  Regiment  as  the  memory  of  our 
mothers  and  sisters  is  sacred,  that  we  ask  their 
encouragement  and  prayers  and  those  of  loyal 
women  everywhere  to  sustain  us  against  our 
open  enemies  in  front  and  concealed  foes  in  the 
rear,  that  our  best  wishes  shall  ever  be  for  their 
happiness  and  prosperity  in  this  world,  and  that 
in  another,  angel  hands  may  place  upon  the 
brow  of  each  and  every  one  of  them  a  diadem 
of 'stars  far  more  brilliant  and  more  sacred  than 
those  which  glitter  in  the  azure  of  our  National 
banner. 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  these  Resolutions  be 
sent  to  the  Presidents  of  the  "  Woman's  National 
League  "  and  "  Misses  Aid  Society "  of  Peoria, 
to  the  Peoria  Transcript  and  the  Chicago  Tribune. 

On  motion,  the  resolutions  were  adopted  by  a 
unanimous  vote.  On  motion,  adjourned  sine  die. 
COL.  D.  P.  GRIER,  Chairman. 

LIEUT.  H.  P.  AYRES,  Secretary. 

On  the  eleventh  of  November,  at  ten  o'clock 
A.M.,  we  received  orders  to  march  at  two  o'clock 
P.M.  for  New  Iberia,  to  reenforce  the  troops  at 


214  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

that  place,  as  General  Burbridge  was  appre- 
hending an  attack.  Accordingly  the  77th  Illi- 
nois and  48th  Ohio  packed  their  traps,  and  at 
the  hour  designated,  away  we  went  on  a  dog 
trot,  reaching  our  destination,  after  a  forced 
march,  to  find  that  there  was  no  immediate 
danger.  But  then,  we  had  been  long  enough  at 
Franklin,  and  we  had  to  move  to  wear  off  the 
rust. 

We  were  now  in  a  land  of  plenty  —  a  land  of 
corn  and  wine,  so  to  speak,  and  we  were  not 
slow  to  improve  our  opportunities.  On  the  nine- 
teenth of  November  the  Seventy-Seventh  was 
ordered  on  a  foraging  expedition  —  that  is,  to  get 
something  to  feed  the  mules.  But  Gen.  Frank- 
lin had  issued  strict  orders  against  supplying  oar 
own  wants.  As  we  passed  through  the  town, 
Major  Hotchkiss,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
Regiment,  reported  to  General  Burbridge  for 
instructions.  He  told  the  Major  about  the 
orders  of  Gen.  Franklin,  and  in  conclusion  he 
said,  "  Now  Major,  I  hope  you  will  observe  these 
orders  very  strictly,  and  tell  your  men  from  me, 
that  if  they  should  unfortunately  catch  any 
chickens  or  geese,  or  anything  else,  they  must 
be  careful  and  not  get  bitten."  The  Major  brought 
the  report  to  the  Regiment  —  we  knew  what  it 
meant  —  three  very  emphatic  cheers  went  up  for 
General  Burbridge,  and  we  started.  We  crossed 
the  bayou  and  marched  about  ten  miles  when 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  215 

we  came  to  a  plantation  where  we  found  an 
abundance  of  forage  for  the  teams,  and  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  when  we  came  into  camp  that  night 
we  had  at  least  forty  bushels  of  sweet  potatoes, 
ten  dozen  chickens  and  other  things  in  propor- 
tion. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d  one  of  the  boys 
received  a  package  of  papers  from  home,  and 
among  them  was  the  Peoria  Transcript,  contain- 
ing a  speech  made  by  Col.  R.  G.  Ingersoll,  at 
Pekin,  and  one  by  his  brother,  E.  C.  Ingersoll, 
at  Elmwood.  The  boys  crowded  into  the  tent 
and  insisted  on  having  those  speeches  read  aloud 
for  the  benefit  of  all  present.  As  the  reader 
proceeded  he  was  frequently  interrupted  by 
cheers  for  "  Bob "  and  such  exclamations  as 
these:  '"read  that  again,"  "hurrah  for  Elrn- 
wood,"  "bully  for  Bob  Ingersoll,"  "his  head  is 
level,"  etc.,  and  notwithstanding  the  drum 
tapped  the  hour  for  retirement,  they  would  not 
be  satisfied  until  both  speeches  were  read.  It 
was  a  rough  and  boisterous  expression  of  patri- 
otism, but  it  came  from  warm  and  loyal  hearts. 

Our  National  Thanksgiving  was  observed  on 
the  26th  of  November,  and  on  that  day  a  large 
gathering  of  officers  and  soldiers  took  place  at 
the  headquarters  of  Gen.  McGinnis,  commander 
of  the  3d  Division,  13th  Army  Corps.  It  was 
one  of  the  most  cheering  scenes  we  had  seen  for 
many  a  day.  Speeches  were  made  by  General 


216  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Cameron,  and  by  a  great  many  Colonels.  Majors, 
Captains,  etc.  The  occasion  was  enlivened  by 
music  from  the  brass  bands  belonging  to  the  llth 
and  34th  Indiana  Regiments.  At  the  close,  when 
the  Doxology, 

"Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow," 

was  sung  by  the  choir  and  played  by  the  band, 
every  head  in  that  vast  assemblage  was  rever- 
ently uncovered,  as  in  the  presence  of  Him  who 
rules  among  the  nations. 

About  this  time  another  change  was  made  in 
our  Division.  As  now  arranged  the  1st  Brigade 
was  commanded  by  Col.  "W.  J.  Landram,  and 
consisted  of  •  the  19th  Kentucky,  the  83d  and 
96th  Ohio,  and  the  60th  and  67th  Indiana 
Regiments,  and  the  17th  Ohio  Battery.  The 
2d  Brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  D.  P.  Grier, 
consisted  of  the  77th,  97th  and  130th  Illinois 
and  the  48th  Ohio  Regiments,  and  the  Mercantile 
Battery  of  Chicago. 

We  remained  at  New  Iberia  until  the  7th  of 
December,  when  we  turned  our  faces  homeward 
—  that  is  in  the  direction  of  New  Orleans.  And 
here  it  may  be  well  to  state  that  General  Banks 
pursued  a  very  peculiar,  but  at  the  same  time, 
salutary  and  welcome  policy  with  the  troops  in 
his  department — a  policy  which  was  well  calcu- 
lated to  "make  treason  odious,"  and  crush  the 
rebellion. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  217 

He  would  collect  a  large  army  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  Orleans,  and  after  having  spent  a  month 
or  more  in  the  pleasant  exercise  of  reviewing  the 
troops,  a  la  McClellau — an  exercise  which  was 
indispensable  to  the  salvation  of  the  country  — 
he  would  march  his  army  to  some  point  on  the 
frontier,  or  "  to  the  front,"  as  it  was  called,  when, 
having  made  the  necessary  observations  and 
studied  the  geography  of  the  country,  he  would 
retrace  his  steps,  return  to  the  city  and  repeat 
the  programme,  placing  his  "  objective  point  "  in 
a  different  direction.  This  policy  was  pursued 
probably  from  the  fact  that  if  the  troops  re- 
mained long  in  the  field,  they  would  become  de- 
moralized and  forget  all  about  city  life  and  polite 
etiquette.  Moreover,  they  would  become  total 
strangers  to  the  influences  exerted  by  the  high 
standard  of  morality,  for  which  the  Southern 
Metropolis  has  always  been  noted.  These  con- 
siderations indicate  the  necessity  of  our  return- 
ing frequently  to  the  base  of  operations  at  New 
Orleans. 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  order  of 
exercises,  we  made  a  retrogade  movement  in  due 
time,  leaving  New  Iberia  on  the  7th  day  of 
December,  and  arriving  at  Algiers  on  the  13th  of 
the  month,  having  marched  fifty-six  miles,  and 
traveled  eighty  miles  by  railroad,  in  the  brief 
period  of  »ix  days  and  a  half.  Verily,  the  world 
did  move  in  those  days. 
14 


CHAPTER  THE  ELEVENTH. 


RECRUITS. 


VIEW  of  the  fact  that  the  Regiment  was 
now  becoming  very  much  reduced  in  num- 
bers, Colonel  Grier  asked  for,  and  received 
permission  to  go  home  with  a  detachment  of 
men  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  order  granting  that  permission  : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF,  ) 
NEW  ORLEANS,  November  24,  1863.     j 

Special  Orders,  No. 

Extract  * 

The  following-named  officers  and  enlisted  men 
will  proceed  without  delay  to  their  respective 
States,  and  there  report  to  the  Governors  of  the 
several  States,  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  for 
their  respective  regiments. 

These  detachments  will  proceed  without  delay, 
under  the  charge  of  the  senior  officer  of  each 
Regiment. 

The  Quartermaster's  Department  will  furnish 
the  necessary  transportation  : 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  219 

Colonel     D.  P.  Grier,      ....       77th  III. 

Captain     Edwin  Stevens,         Co.  "  E,"        " 

Corporal  Charles  H.  Arms,        "  "  A,"        " 

Sergeant  James  Wier,  "  "  B," 

Joseph  Hutchinson,    "  "  C," 

James  T.  Bender,        "  "D," 

Benj.  F.  Kobbins,        "  "  E," 

"         James  Hammers,        "  "  F,"        " 

Corporal  Moses  E.  Burt,  "  "  G,"        " 

David  L.  Murdock,    "  "H," 

Austin  C.  Aten,          "  "I," 

Sergeant  John  Yinger,  "  "  K,"        " 

By  command  of 

MAJ.  GEN.  BANKS. 
G.  NORMAN  LIBBER,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  foregoing  detail  left  New  Iberia  for  the 
north  soon  after  the  order  was  issued,  arriving  in 
Feoria  on  the  18th  of  December,  1863.  As  the 
detail  departed.  General  Burbridge  sent  the  fol- 
lowing communication  to  Gov.  Yates  of  Illinois: 

HEADQUARTERS,  4rn  DIVISION  13TH  A.  C., ) 
NEW  IBERIA,  December  5,  1863.      ) 

HON.  RICHARD  YATES. 

Dear  Sir:  —  I  avail  myself  of  the  return 
home  of  recruiting  details  from  the  77th,  97th 
and  180th  Regiments  Illinois  Volunteers,  and 
Chicago  Mercantile  Battery,  as  a  fitting  oppor- 
tunity to  express  my  entire  satisfaction  and 


220  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

hearty  approval  of  their  conduct,  discipline  and 
soldierly  bearing  under  their  accomplished  and 
efficient  officers. 

Having  been  intimately  associated  with  them 
long  before  I  was  called  to  assume  command  of 
them,  I  found  them  to  the  full  what  their  past 
noble  record  had  prepared  me  to  expect,  and  I 
desire  to  join  my  pride  and  gratification  at  hav- 
ing such  men  in  my  command,  to  the  just  pride 
of  the  people  at  having  sent  such  gallant  soldiers 
to  fight  for  our  glorious  cause. 

I  heartily  commend  these  Regiments  to  you 
and  to  the  citizens  of  your  State  as  very  desir- 
able ones  to  enlist  in,  as  they  will  be  certain  of  a 
favorable  position  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of 
the  war. 

With  assurances  of  high  personal  regard,  I 
beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  G.  BURBRIDGE, 

Brigadier  General. 

As  soon  as  the  recruiting  detail  reached  home 
they  commenced  operations  in  Peoria  and  the 
surrounding  towns,  and  were  very  successful,  as 
the  following  muster-roll  will  show.  It  will  be 
observed  from  the  dates  that  some  of  these  men 
enlisted  before  this  recruiting  party  began  their 
work,  but  as  they  are  all  recruits,  that  is,  they 
enlisted  after  the  original  muster-in  of  the  Regi- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  221 

ment,  it  is  thought  proper  to  give  them  all  in 
this  place.  Those  who  were  transferred  to  the 
130th  Illinois  are  followed  to  that  Regiment  until 
they  finally  left  the  service  : 

RECRUITS    FOR   COMPANY  "A." 

William  C.  C.  Allison,  Galesburg. 

February  11,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Henry  G.  Arms,  Knoxville. 

December  16,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Levi  S.  Bartlett,  Galesburg. 

February  3,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  24,  1865. 
Charles  E.  Bancroft,  Galesburg. 

February  8,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Daniel  Boher,  Galesburg. 

January  20,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Francis  Bates,  Galesburg. 

January  26,  1864;  died  at  Galesburg,  111.,  Oct.  12, 1864. 
William  H.  Babcock,  Peoria. 

December  30,  1863;  discharged  for  disability,  May  23, 

1864. 
Elisha  A.  Chadrich,  Galesburg. 

February  11,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
George  W.  Conero,  Galesburg. 

February  12,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "A,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Henry  Crow,  Peoria. 

January  7,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th    111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Daniel  B.  Cutler,  Peoria. 

December  26,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  III.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 


222 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


James  H.  Cutler,  Peoria. 

December  26,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
James  Crawford,  Jreoria. 

December  30,  1863;  discharged  for  disability,  July  26, 

1864. 
Darius  J.  Cook,  Peoria. 

February  13,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Charles  H.  Day,  Wataga. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Dounard,  Peoria. 

January  4,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Thomas  W.  Edson,  La  Salle. 

November  9,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Frank  M.  Evans,  Galesburg. 

February  9,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

promoted  Sergeant;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
James  F.  Heagy,  Galesburg. 

February  9,  1864;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  July  18, 

1864. 
Oliver  Howard,  Galva. 

January  29,  1864;  transferred   to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Charles  C.  Hope,  Galesburg. 

January  4,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Alfred  M.  Judson,  Galesburg. 

January  4,  1864;  transferred  to   Co.   "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Robert  Kay,  Galesburg. 

February  11,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Joseph  Kunert,  Peoria. 

January  4,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Andrew  J.  Lockbaum,  Peoria. 

November  23,  1863;  transferred  to  Co,  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

absent,  sick  at  muster-out  of  Regiment. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  223 

Thomas  Lynch,  Peoria. 

January  5,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th   III.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Charles  H.  Meadows,  Galesburg. 

February  15,  1864;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.,  December 

23,  1864. 
Charles  May,  Galesburg. 

February  12,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

musterred  out  August  15,  1865. 
John  Martin,  Peoria. 

December  29,  1863;  mustered   out  a  prisoner  of  war 

June  17,  1865. 
Frank  M.  Martin,  Galesburg. 

February  18,  1864;  transferred  to  130th  111. 
James  Mather,  Knoxville. 

November  9,  1863;  transferred  to   Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Theodore  H.  Neander,  Washburn. 

November  9,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Samuel  Ott,  Orange. 

November  18,  1863;  transferred  to  Co  "D,"  130th  111. 
Theodore  Perkins,  Persifer. 

November  30,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Charles  W.  Price,  Galesburg 

February  9,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  D,"   130th  111.; 

discharged  Sept.  9,  1864,  to  accept  promotion  in  107th 

U.  S.  C.  T. 
John  S.  Rambo,  Haw  Creek. 

December  30,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June  17,  1865. 
Joseph  Rambo,  Haw  Creek. 

December   30,   1863;    discharged   for   wounds,  July  1, 

1864. 
Charles  W.  Read,  Galesburg. 

February  9,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "D."  130th    Illi- 
nois; mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  Smith,  Gilson. 

December  30,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  E,"  130th  Illi- 
nois; mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June  17,  1865. 


224  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Charles  B.  Smith,  Galesburg. 

February  11,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
James  Smith,  Peoria. 

January  5,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.    "  D,"    130th   111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
George  W.  Sutton,  Peoria. 

January  11,  1864;  transferred   to   Co.  "D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Alfred  Spidle,  Persifer. 

February  10,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "  D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  S.  Tree,  Persifer. 

December  30,  1863 ;  died  at  Tyler,  Texas,  while  a  pris- 
oner of  war,  July  22,  1864. 
Ethan  A.  Wallace,  Galesburg. 

February  22,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Milton  H.  Wentworth,  Galesburg. 

February  6,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  D,"  130th  111.; 

promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
George  W.  Witherell,  Galesburg. 

February  11,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "D,"  130th  III.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Benjamin  Wills,  Persifer. 

December  30,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  9,  1865. 
Jacob  Wallack,  Persifer. 

February  10,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  B." 

Alfred  F.  Selling. 

Transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111. ;  mustered  out  Aug. 

15,  1865. 
Alonzo  F.  Murden,  Peoria. 

March  14,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  Illinois; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  225 

Ellsworth  Utterbach,  Vermilliori. 

March  15,  1865;  transferred    to   Co.    "A,"    130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Benjamin  L.  Weireman,  Magnolia. 

September  13,  1864;  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  C." 

George  J.  Gordon,  Smithfield. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

promoted  Corporal ;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
David  W.  Hanna,  Cazenovia. 

January  19,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.   "  B,"  130th  111.; 

Absent,  sick  at  muster  out  of  regiment. 
Fred.  J.  Han  day  sides, 

January  4,  1864;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  August  9, 

1864. 
Dudley  Linville,  Versailles,  Ky. 

November,  1862;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  Illinois; 

promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Samuel  W.  McCulloch,  Washburn. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

promoted  Corporal ;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Alfred  Romine,  Kingston. 

January  25,  1864;  discharged  for  disability,  December 

17,  1864. 
John  E.  Stephenson,  Washburn. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "D,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
David  B.  Sattbrd,  Metamora. 

February  28,  1864;  deserted  April  21,  1865. 
James  M.  Toy,  Washburn. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  130th  Illinois. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  D." 

Morgan  Antrim,  Henry. 

December  29,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 
mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 


226  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Thompkin  C.  Barney,  Peoria. 

November  16,  1863;  transferred  to  130th  111. 
Sherebiah  Bass. 

Transferred  to  130th  111. 

James  Bonde. 

Lawrence  Creyton,  Lacon. 

February  10,  1864;  dropped  Sept.  3,  1864;  supposed  to 

to  be  dead. 
Thomas  Davis. 

October  1,  1862;   transferred   to  Co.    "B,"    130th   111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
George  W.  Furrow,  Lacon. 

December  23,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
James  Fowler. 

July  28,  1864;  deserted  October  10,  1864. 
Frank  Maxwell. 

July  28,  1864;  deserted  October  12,  1864. 
James  W.  Twinam. 

October  1,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.    "D,"    130th   111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  E." 

George  Albright,  Westtield. 

March   14,   1865;    transferred  to  Co.   "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
James  W.  Babcock,  Peoria. 

February  24,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
James  T.  Dawson,  Haw  Creek. 

January— ,1865;   transfered  to  Co.    "  B,"   130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  Donaldson,  Logan. 

February  25,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"   130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
George  W.  Hunt. 

December  14,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 


227 


James  W.  Houghtalling,  Logan. 

February  23,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Charles  G.  Holt,  Marshall. 

March  31,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  Illinois; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  H.  Hays,  Hallock, 

January  30,  1865:  transferred  to  Co.  " B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Charles  V.  Johnson,  Marshall. 

March  31,  1864;  died  at  Henry,  111.,  Sept.— ,1864. 
Newton  Jenkins,  Logan. 

February  23,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Charles  McTaggart,  Metamora. 

March  31,  1864;  transferred   to  Co.    "  B,"    130th   111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Samuel  H.  Smith,  Elmont. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "A,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

William  P.  Souders. 

Transferred  to  Co.  "A,"  130th  111.;  mus- 


tered out  August  15,  1865. 
Henry  Sargent,  Peoria. 

February  24,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "  A,"  130th  111.; 
mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  P." 

John  W.  Adams,  Yates  City. 

December  29,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  H.  Barnes,  Sparland. 

January  5,  1864;  transferred    to  Co.    "  B,"   130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
John  D.  Hamrick,  Yates  City. 

December  25,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Solomon  Johnson,  Sparland. 

January  5,  1864;    transferred  to   Co.  "  B,"  130th  111. ; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 


228  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Joseph  Lutkieweiz,  Persifer. 

February  10,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
David  Nighswonger,  Spar-land. 

January5,  1864;  transferred   to  Co.   "  C,"   130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
William  J.  Phillips,  Bruce. 

April   5,    1865;    transferred   to   Co.    "C,"    130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  14,  1865. 
Alfred  Snell. 

August  22,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  a  prisoner  of  war,  June  17,  1865. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  G." 

Michael  Bolen,  Elmwood. 

February  20,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Cassius  M.  Clough  Elmwood. 

January  27,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"    130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Caleb  G.  Clough,  Elmwood. 

January  27,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.    "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Morris  Grissom,  Summit. 

November  11,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111. 
James  A.  Grissom,  Summit. 

November  11,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Benjamin  G.  Hunter,  Peoria. 

November  5,  1863;    died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  June, 

1864. 
Joseph  Hunter,  Peoria. 

November  11,  1864;  died  at  home,  Dec.  26,  1864. 
George  W.  Huffman,  Elmwood. 

January  27,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
John  S.  Hirst,  Summit. 

January  27,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.   "  B,"   130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  229 

Charles  B.  Johnson. 


Transferred  to  130th  111. 


Peter  Morris,  Troy. 

February  13,  1865;  deserted  April  5,  1865. 
Charles  Patch,  Minonk. 

January  5,  1865;  transferred   to  Co.  "  C,',   130th    111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Robert  H.  Stewart,  Elmwood. 

February  19,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  A,"  130th  111.; 

discharged  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  August  81,  1865. 
Charles  H.  Smith.  — 

Transferred  to  Co.  "  A,"  130th  111. ;  dis- 
charged August  15,  1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Williams,  Elmwood. 

January  18,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.   "A,"   130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Christopher  C.  Williams,  Springfield. 

March  28,  1864;  transferred  to   Co.    "A,"   130th    111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

RECRUITS  FOR  COMPANY  "  H." 

William  Allen,  Minonk. 

March  24,  1864;  transferred    to   Co.   "  B,"   130th    III.; 

discharged  for  disability,  August  11,  1865. 
John  Baker 

October   1,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  130th   111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Thomas  Bassett,  Chestnut. 

January  27,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "  C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  19,  1865. 
Charles  E.  Hall,  Minonk. 

December  26,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  ",B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Joseph  H.  Knickerbocker,  Peoria. 

January  25,  1864;  mustered  out  May  23,  1865. 
David  Moore 

Transferred    from    2d    Illinois    Cavalry; 

transferred  to  Co.  "  B,"  130th  111.;  mustered  out  Aug. 

15,  1865. 
Frank  W.  Pillsbury,  Lebreeshy. 

January  5,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"    130th   111.; 

promoted  1st  Sergeant;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 


230  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


RECRUITS   FOR   COMPANY  "I." 

Edward  E.  Bigelow,  Elm  wood. 

December  30,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th   111.; 

promoted  Corporal;  mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  D.  Cone,  Elmwood. 

January  4,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th   111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
John  W.  Dixon,  rates  City. 

December  23,  1863;  discharged  fo*  disability,  May  11, 

1864. 
Daniel  L.  Murphy,  Elmwood. 

December  23,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

Samuel  McRill,  Eugene. 

December  24,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"  130th  111.; 
mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

Samuel  C.  Null,  Salem. 

February  3,  1865;  transferred   to  Co.  "  E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  W.  Pratz,  Elmwood. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Wesley  J.  Whitehead,  Elmwood. 

January  25,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  E,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 

RECRUITS    FOR   COMPANY   "  K." 

George  Archdale,  Trivoli. 

December  24,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "B,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
John  Haine$,  Peoria. 

January  5,  1864;  transferred  to  130th  III. 
John  H.  Hamilton,  Peoria. 

December  3,  1863;  mustered  out  January  3,  1865. 
Taylor  McMohan,  Somerville. 

January  12,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  130th   111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
William  Nolan,  Haw  Creek. 

January— ,  1865;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  231 

Isaac  Orr,  Kickapoo. 

January  25,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  14,  1865. 
Thomas  Parker,  Rosefield. 

April  7,  1864;  died  at  Fort  Gaines,  Ala.,  September  4, 

1864. 
Lyman  J.  Powell,  Edwards  Station. 

January  20,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  14,  1865. 
Samuel  H.  Race,  Pekin. 

February  1,  1864;  transferred   to  Co.  "C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
Robert  J.  Rynearson,  Peoria. 

December  3,  1863;  transferred  to  Co.  "  C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  June  17,  1865. 
Edwin  R.  Somers,  Peoria. 

January  2,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
George  Thurston,  Peoria. 

February  29,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  130th  111.; 

mustered  out  August  15,  1865. 
John  D.  Wholstenholm,  Kickapoo. 

April  5,  1864;  transferred  to  Co.  "  C,"  130th  111.;  mus- 
tered out  August  15,  1865. 

UNASSIGNED  RECRUITS. 

John  Abel,  Chicago. 
Richard  Atkins,  Peoria,  March  1,  1865. 
Charles  W.  Brown,  Troy,  Feb.  13,  1865. 
Thomas  Bun,  Peoria,  March  2,  1865. 
James  Burnett,  Peoria,  March  1,  1865. 
James  Boner,  Lacou,  l3ec.  22,  1863. 
William  H.  Brown,  Peoria,  Feb.  26,  1864. 
William  Brown,  Chicago,  April  1,  1865. 

John  M.  Bremble. 

Alfred  Burlingame,  Lacon. 

James  Conners,  Peoria,  March  2,  1865. 

Jacob  M.  Conner,  Auburn,  Feb.  14,  1865. 


232  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Franklin  F.  Denton,  Galesburg. 

Patrick  Flannagan,  Peoria,  Sept.  9,  1864. 

William  Folz,  Peoria. 

Chauncey  W.  Greenman,  Peoria. 

James  Haley,  Peoria,  Feb.  28,  1865. 

John  Hubert,  Peoria,  Feb.  28,  1865. 

John  Hays,  Peoria,  March  2,  1865. 

John  Herbert. 

William  Hays,  Hallock,  Jan.  30,  1865. 

Samuel  J.  Hutchinsou,  Lacon. 

John  Houck,  Washington. 

Silas  Kerr,  Peoria,  Feb.  24,  1865. 

Daniel  Kelly,  Peoria,  March  2,  1865. 

Alfred  Kahling,  Peoria,  Feb.  27,  1865. 

Charles  King,  Eugene. 

Henry  M.  Karmany,  Peoria. 

James  Linch,  La  Salle. 

Abraham  Linscott,  Lacou. 

Alonzo  T.  Marden,  Westtield. 

John  Miller,  Peoria,  Feb.  28,  1865. 

Hugh  F.  McElheny,  Peoria,  March  14, 1865. 

John  McGree,  Peoria,  Jan.  13,  1864. 

James  McElhany,  Ohio,  March  9,  1865. 

John  Miller. 

Henry  P.  McManus,  Peoria,  Feb.  29,  1864. 

Wm.  H.  B.  McCoy,  Washburn,  Nov.  18, 1863. 

Michael  Morrisy,  Galesburg. 

Walter  Murray,  Galesburg. 

Frank  N.  Martin,  Wataga. 

Henry  S.  McAllister,  Galesburg. 

George  H.  Percival,  Peoria. 

David  B.  Pemble,  Elmwood. 

Nathan  W.  Pourch,  Lacon. 

Andrew  Sorner,  Peoria,  Feb.  28,  1865. 

Andrew  Simson. 

William  Sowders  Hallock,  Jan.  30,  1865. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  233 

John  Shurray,  Peoria. 
John  (jr.  Stewart,  Elmwood. 
Louis  Sanford,  Peoria. 
Samuel  Stevens,  Galesburg. 
John  Wilson,  Peoria. 
Samuel  M.  Wadsworth,  Peoria. 


15 


TEXAS. 


THE  evening  of  Dec.  17th,  we  went 
aboard  the  transport  "  De  Molay,"  and  that 
night  cut  loose  and  steamed  down  the 
river.  The  next  morning,  early,  we  crossed  the 
dividing  line  between  the  turbid  waters  of  the 
Mississippi  and  the  clear  blue  waters  of  the  Gulf. 
And  now  ensued  a  scene  comical  in  the  extreme^ 
comical  to  the  spectators,  but  not  to  the  perfor- 
mers. The  vessel  heaved  and  rolled  from  side  to 
side  as  she  bounded  over  the  waves  —  now  lifting 
her  prow  high  in  the  air,  and  then  plunging  for- 
ward as  if  the  noble  ship  would  be  engulfed  in  the 
trough  of  the  sea.  Many  of  the  boys  were  seized 
with  that  peculiar  nauseous  feeling  known  as 
sea-sickness,  and  they  employed  their  leisure 
time  in  what  they  called  "  heaving  up  Jonah," 
that  is  they  vomited  most  majestically.  Some 
would  lean  over  the  railing  and  deposit  their 
morning  meal  in  the  Gulf;  others,  more  timid, 
would  cling  with  the  tenacity  of  life  to  a  post, 
and  perform  their  part  of  the  comedy  with  due 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  235 

solemnity.  As  some  unlucky  officer  appeared  on 
deck  to  contribute  something  to  the  entertain- 
ment, the  boys,  without  the  fear  of  shoulder- 
straps  before  their  eyes,  would  call  out,  "  There 
goes  your  fifty  cents." 

We  reached  our  destination  —  Pass  Cavello, 
Texas — and  went  into  camp  on  a  dreary,  deso- 
late sand  bank,  known  as  DeCrow's  Point.  This 
is  a  peninsula  lying  between  the  waters  of  the 
Gulf  and  Matagorda  Bay.  While  here  we  felt 
much  inconvenience  for  want  of  rations.  While 
vast  stores  of  "  hard-tack,"  and  kindred  luxuries 
were  piled  up  at  New  Orleans,  Gen.  Banks, 
with  a  foresight  for  which  his  military  adminis- 
tration was  famous,  failed  to  furnish  his  troops 
in  Texas  with  the  much-needed  supplies.  To 
add  to  the  discomforts  of  the  situation,  the 
weather  was  exceedingly  cold  for  a  southern 
climate.  At  night  the  cold  northwesters  would 
howl  across  the  sandy  waste,  and  it  was  no  un- 
common thing  to  see  the  whole  encampment  ly- 
ing prostrate  on  the  sand.  On  one  of.  these 
occasions,  after  the  wind  had  been  performing 
wild  antics  through  the  night,  the  lamented  Col. 
Webb  awoke  in  the  morning  to  find  his  tent 
covering  him  as  a  blanket.  He  crawled  from 
the  ruins  and  looked  with  mute  surprise  upon 
the  wrecks  around  him.  At  length,  unable 
longer  to  control  his  feelings,  he  exclaimed  in 


236  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

accents  of  solemnity,  "  Behold  the  ruins  of  Pom- 
peii" 

For  the  most  part,  we  had  to  depend  for  fuel 
on  drift-wood  gathered  along  the  coast.  This 
would  not  burn  very  well,  especially  when  the 
wind  was  blowing,  and  that  was  nearly  all  the 
time.  To  obviate  this  difficulty,  we  dug  holes  in 
the  ground,  and  in  them  built,  fires  to  do  our 
cooking.  Of  course  the  wind  would  very  gen- 
erously sprinkle  our  rations  with  sand,  which 
was  gritty  to  the  teeth  and  the  taste.  In  fact 
we  had  "  grit  "  enough  and  "  sand  in  the  craw  " 
enough  for  any  emergency. 

But  these  diversions  were  suddenly  inter- 
rupted by  the  appearance  of  an  enemy  in  the 
distance.  We  were  now  becoming  too  much 
attached  to  our  new  home  to  be  driven  from  it 
without  a  struggle.  We  would  "  die  in  the  last 
ditch  "  rather  than  surrender  our  firesides  and 
our  sand  hills.  No  ruthless  foe  should  ever  in- 
vade the  sacred  precincts  of  our  camp.  With 
these  thoughts  animating  our  patriotic  breasts, 
we  marched  out  to  meet  the  enemy.  With 
colors  flying,  and  burnished  arms  glistening  in 
the  sunlight,  our  lines  advanced  in  splendid 
style.  We  met  the  enemy  and  they  were  ours. 
To  parody  the  lines  of  the  nursery  rhyme, 

"  We  charged  upon  a  flock  of  sheep, 
And  put  them  all  to  flight," 

excepting    what    we   killed   and    brought    into 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  237 

camp.  But  in  spite  of  these  alarms,  and  in  spite 
of  all  our  surroundings  on  this  inhospitable  coast, 
we  had  one  consolation  left,  and  that  was,  our 
stay  would  be  short.  Gen.  Banks,  in  the  regu- 
lar order  of  things,  would  soon  order  us  back  to 
our  "  base  "  to  take  a  fresh  start. 

At  this  time  a  good  deal  of  interest  was  felt 
about  a  new  organization  of  troops  which  had 
been  christened  the  "Corps  d'Afrique,"  or  as 
some  of  the  baser  sort  among  us  called  it,  the 
"  Corps  de  Nigger."  Many  were  the  aspirants 
for  military  honors  in  this  new  enterprise. 
Dreams  of  promotion,  shoulder  straps  and  in- 
creased pay  floated  through  the  imaginations  of 
thousands.  Many  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  in  the  different  regiments, 
who  had  hitherto  performed  their  duties  credita- 
bly, became  dissatisfied  with  their  present  con- 
dition, and  applied  for  commissions.  The 
epidemic  swept  through  the  Seventy-Seventh. 
About  a  dozen  of  our  boys  were  successful  in 
their  aspirations  for  fame;  but,  as  is  always  the 
case  in  a  grand  rush  for  office,  there  were  a 
few  appointments,  and  many  ^appointments. 
Some  of  those  however,  who  did  succeed,  put  on 
more  style  than  a  Major  General.  It  was  a 
common  thing  in  those  days  to  see  a  brand  new 
Second-Lieutenant  strut  the  streets  of  New 
Orleans,  with  head  erect,  shoulders  thrown  back 


238  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

and  stately  tread,  as  much  as  to  say,  '•  Clear  the 
track,  look  out  there,  /'  m  coming." 

Before  receiving  a  commission  in  the  Corps 
d'  Afrique,  it  was  necessary  for  the  applicant  to 
pass  an  examination  before  a  Board  of  Examin- 
ers, appointed  to  try  the  merits  of  the  case.  A 
gentleman  who  passed  —  or  rather  failed  to  pass 
—  the  examination,  thus  reports  the  results: 

Colonel. —  What  is  the  position  of  a  soldier  ? 

Candidate. —  About  the  same  as  that  of  a  deck 
hand  on  a  steamboat. 

Col. —  How  do  you  form  company  ?    • 

Can. —  Get  out  big  handbills  offering  $13  a 
month,  $100  bounty,  $25  down,  a  month's  pay  in 
advance  and  $2  premium.  Say  something  about 
our  glorious  country,  free  institutions  and  Fourth 
of  July,  and  you  will  soon  have  your  company 
formed. 

Col. — "When  you  have  formed  your  company, 
what  do  you  do  then  ? 

Can. —  Wear  shoulder  straps  and  draw  $129  a 
month. 

Col. — How  do  you  instruct  your  men  to  mark 
time  ? 

Can. —  By  cutting  a  notch  in  a  stick  for  each 
day  —  two  notches  for  Sunday. 

Col. — After  marking  time,  what  conies  next? 

Can. —  March. 

Col. —  What  next  after  march  ? 

Can. —  April. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  239 

Col. —  How  do  you  open  ranks? 

Can. —  Fire  a  cannon  ball  into  them. 

Col. —  Who  are  the  highest  military  officers  ? 

Can. —  Generals. 

Col. —  Why  are  they  called  generals? 

Can. —  Because  they  are  nobody  in  particular. 

Col. —  Very  well.  What  education  have  you 
had  ?  What  branches  are  you  familiar  with  ? 

Can. —  Beech  branches  mostly,  as  I  lived  in 
Indiana  during  my  school  days. 

Col. —  Do  you  consider  yourself  capable  of  in- 
structing a  company  of  American  citizens  of 
African  descent? 

Can. —  I  think,  sir,  I  can  teach  the  young  idea 
how  to  shoot. 

Col. —  What  would  be  your  principal  aim  and 
end  be  in  such  instructions? 

Can. —  My  principal  aim  would  be  at  the 
rebels  —  my  end,  the  end  of  the  war. 

Here  the  examination  closed,  but  as  there  was 
no  vacancy  just  then,  the  applicant  did  not  re- 
ceive a  commission. 

As  our  highly  esteemed  Chaplain,  the  Rev.  W. 
G.  Pierce,  had  resigned  and  gone  home,  we  now 
had  to  depend  upon  ourselves  and  the  generosity 
of  other  regiments  for  religious  instruction  and 
entertainment.  On  the  latter  we  depended  not 
in  vain.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Chittenden,  of  the  67th 
Indiana  was,  emphatically,  the  right  man  in  the 
right  place,  and  the  boys  of  the  77th  can  never 


240  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

forget  his  kind  services.  He  was  faithful  in 
season  and  out  of  season — faithful  all  the  time. 
But  still  we  had  no  Chaplain  that  we  could  call 
our  own,  and  we  felt  lost  without  one.  We 
missed  the  Christian  ministrations  of  Mr.  Pierce, 
which  we  had  so  much  enjoyed  in  other  days. 
It  is  true  that  the  Sunday  and  Wednesday  even- 
ing prayer  meetings  were  kept  up  and  well 
attended.  At  one  of  these  meetings,  Captain 
McCulloeh  proposed  that  it  be  made  a  matter  of 
public  and  private  prayer,  that  God,  in  his  own 
good  time,  would  send  us  a  Chaplain  to  go  in 
and  out  before  us.  And  that  prayer  was  an- 
swered in  due  time,  by  the  arrival  in  the  Regi- 
ment of  the  Rev.  John  S.  McCulloeh,  who  was 
mustered  as  Chaplain  on  the  5th  of  April,  1864. 
It  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  soldiers,  as 
a  rule,  have  no  respect  for  religion  or  religious 
teachers.  On  the  contrary,  a  conscientious,  God- 
fearing, faithful  Chaplain,  is  regarded  by  saint 
and  sinner  alike,  as  a  great  acquisition  to  any 
Regiment. 

And  such  was  Rev.  L.  S.  Chittenden  of  the 
67th  Indiana.  His  work  was  not  confined  to  his 
own  Regiment,  but  throughout  the  camp  — 
wherever  a  soldier,  whether  sick  or  well,  or 
dying,  needed  his  service,  he  was  there  at  the 
post  of  duty.  With  a  smile  and  cheerful  greet- 
ing, "Well,  boys,  how  do  you  do?"  and  a  warm, 
fraternal  grasp  of  the  hand,  he  scattered  sun- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  241 

shine  wherever  he  went.  And  his  name  will  be 
held  in  grateful  remembrance,  while  an  inhab- 
itant of  that  desolate  camp  remains  on  the  earth. 

Among  other  things,  he  procured  a  large  tent, 
in  which  he  held  religious  services,  and  here 
hundreds  assembled  for  worship.  The  Chaplain 
conducted  a  series  of  revival  meetings,  which 
resulted  in  the  conversion  of  about  five  hundred. 
And  many  of  these  converts  were  taken  to'  the 
quiet  waters  of  the  Matagorda  Bay,  and  conse- 
crated in  the  ordinance  of  baptism.  One  scene 
was  impressive  and  beautiful.  Twenty-five  of 
the  new  recruits  had  chosen  immersion,  as  the 
mode  of  baptism  which  they  preferred.  Accord- 
ingly, one  beautiful  day,  with  the  Chaplain  at 
their  head,  the  candidates  joined  hands  and 
marched  into  the  gently  deepening  water,  per- 
haps a  hundred  yards  from  the  shore,  and  there, 
while  the  thousands  of  spectators  sang  an  old 
familiar  hymn,  the  rite  of  baptism  was  per- 
formed, after  which  the  company  rejoined  hands 
and  came  singing  to  the  shore. 

The  Chaplain  also  organized  what  he  called  an 
"Army  Church,"  in  which  were  associated  the 
religous  elements  of  the  different  Regiments, 
without  doing  violence  to  past  affiliations  or 
beliefs.  He  was  also  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
temperance  cause.  In  these  labors  he  was  ably 
seconded  by  Prof.  Mathews  of  the  19th  Ken- 
tucky, and  by  other  devoted  Chaplains.  As  a 


242  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

result  of  their  joint  labors,  hundreds  were  led  to 
adopt  lives  of  uprightness  and  sobriety.  It  is 
perhaps  not  saying  too  much  to  assert,  that  many 
a  soldier  can  date  the  beginning  of  a  new  life, 
from  his  sojourn  among  the  sand  hills  of  Texas. 

"Because  of  his  eminent  services,  Adj't  Gen. 
Swain,  of  Chicago,  then  serving  on  the  corps 
staff,  made  diligent  effort  to  have  created  the 
office  of  Chaplain  General  —  an  office  having 
supervision  of  all  the  Chaplains  of  the  army, 
and  of  having  Chaplain  Chittenden  raised  to  that 
rank.  It  would  have  been  a  worthy  act  be- 
stowed upon  a  worthy  man." 

While  here  Major  General  N.  J.  T.  Dana 
issued  his  famous  manifesto,  saying,  "This  army 
shall  tight  on  foot  and  not  on  wheels,"  and  we 
did  fight  on  foot  to  some  purpose,  as  witness  our 
successful  assault  on  the  sheep.  The  Fourth 
Division  was  now  in  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  T. 
E.  G.  Ransom,  formerly  Colonel  of  the  Eleventh 
Illinois  Infantry,  a  brave  officer  and  one  beloved 
by  all  the  troops  under  him.  The  Brigade  which 
had  formerly  been  led  to  victory  by  that  gallant 
Kentuckian,  Bnrbridge,  was  now  presided  over 
by  one  who  was  no  less  qualified,  no  less  daring, 
Col.  Lamiram  of  the  19th  Kentucky. 

Up  to  this  time  our  experience  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Gulf,  had  not  been  very  pleasant  or 
agreeable.  We  had  spent  a  month  or  more  in 
camp  at  Carrollton.  We  had  marched  up  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  243 

Bayou  Teche,  and  then  —  marched  down  again. 
And  now,  to  cap  the  climax  of  our  disquietude, 
we  were  banished  to  the  dreary  coast  of  Mata- 
gorda  Bay.  But  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that 
we  would  be  allowed  to  remain  long  in  idleness, 
even  on  this  desert  shore. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  the  Regiment  em- 
barked on  the  steamer  "  St.  Mary,"  and  turned 
their  faces  in  the  direction  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  The  19th  Kentucky  and  a  part  of  the 
67th  Indiana,  were  on  the  same  vessel.  This 
trip  was  but  a  repetition  of  the  other.  The  same 
"heaving  up  of  Jonah"  on  the  part  of  the  men ; 
the  same  "  throwing  up  of  commissions  "  on  the 
part  of  the  officers.  At  night,  on  the  24th,  the 
Regiment  reached  the  landing  at  Algiers,  and 
the  next  day  proceeded  to  Brashear  City,  and 
thence  began  the  forward  movement  along  the 
Bayou  Teche. 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTEENTH. 


RED    RIVER. 


NOW  becomes  our  painful  duty  to  write 
a  chapter  full  of  disaster  to  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  and  to  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps 
—  a  chapter  which  we  would  gladly  blot  from 
the  pages  of  this  history.  But  the  events  trans- 
pired, and  the  record  must  be  made. 

Great  activity  prevailed  in  the  department  of 
the  Gulf  during  the  early  spring  of  1864. 
A  large  army,  fully  organized,  thoroughly 
equipped,  and  well  supplied  with  all  the  ma- 
terials for  an  active,  energetic  and  successful 
campaign,  was  collected  and  sent  to  the  front. 
Great  results  were  anticipated,  and,  as  the 
sequel  will  show,  great  results  were  accom- 
plished. 

The  campaign  opened  about  the  first  of 
March.  General  Franklin  with  the  forces  from 
New  Orleans,  took  up  the  line  of  march  along 
the  Bayou  Teche.  General  A.  J.  Smith  em- 
barked at  Vicksburg  with  the  troops  under  his 
command  and  proceeded  down  the  river,  while 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  245 

General  Steele  was  to  cross  the  country  from 
Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  join  the  expedition  on 
Red  River.  Major  General  N.  P.  Banks, 
"  The  Bobbin  boy  of  Waltham,"  was  to  com- 
mand the  combined  forces.  Shreveport,  in 
northwestern  Louisiana,  was  the  grand  objective 
point,  the  occupation  of  which  would  give  us 
control  of  that  part  of  the  State,  and  afford  a 
base  of  operations  against  Texas.  In  addition 
to  the  forces  named  above,  Admiral  Porter  com- 
manded a  fleet  of  gunboats,  the  most  formidable, 
perhaps,  ever  seen  on  the  western  waters.  On 
the  14th  of  March,  while  General  Franklin  was 
moving  across  the  country  via  Franklin,  New 
Iberia,  and  Opelousas,  General  Smith,  assisted 
by  the  gunboats,  attacked  and  captured  Fort  De 
Russy  on  Red  River.  Immediately  after  this, 
the  transports,  with  General  Smith's  troops  on 
board  and  Admiral  Porter's  fleet  of  iron  clads 
moved  up  the  river  and  anchored  in  front  of 
Alexandria  on  the  16th.  It  was  the  intention 
of  Gen.  Franklin  t<5  effect  a  junction  with  Gen. 
Smith  at  this  place,  but  failing  to  do  so,  he  was 
obliged  to  move  in  the  direction  of  Shreveport 
by  land.  It  is  needless  to  detail  all  the  particu- 
lars of  the  march  and  the  camp  between 
Brashear  City,  and  Alexandria.  One  or  two 
incidents  will  suffice. 

On  the  14th  of  March  an  event  occurred  which 
afforded  some  amusement.     The  boys  were  sup- 


246  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

plied  with  what  they  jocularly  called"  dog  tents" 
Our  first  tents  were  the  "  Sibley,"  large  enough 
to  accommodate  from  twelve  to  sixteen  persons. 
The  next  was  the  "  wedge  "  tent,  large  enough 
for  from  four  to  six.  The  ''  dog,"  or  ;'  shelter  " 
tent  consisted  of  two  parts,  each  about  the  size 
of  an  ordinary  blanket,  and  they  could  be 
fastened  together  with  buttons  and  eyelets.  In 
this  way  the  boys  carried  their  tents  with  them, 
each  one  carrying  one  part,  and  by  "  bunking  " 
together  in  couples,  they  were  prepared  to  pitch 
tents  in  short  order.  Either  with  or  without  a 
ridge-pole,  and  with  end  stakes  and  pins  to  fasten 
down  the  sides,  and  by  spreading  a  rubber 
blanket  over  the  top  and  a  rubber  or  other 
blanket  over  one  end,  they  could  be  made  quite 
comfortable.  But  they  were  so  small  the  boys 
could  only  occupy  a  sitting  posture.  If  they 
wanted  to  stand  up  or  turn  around,  they  had  to 
go  outside  for  that  purpose.  Two  objects  were 
accomplished  by  using  this  kind  of  tent.  Every 
soldier  carried  his  shelter  with  him,  and  it  re- 
lieved the  command  of  extra  teams  to  carry 
camp  equipage.  In  the  course  of  time  the  boys 
managed  to  get  at  least  two  each  of  these  tents, 
and  then  a  heavy  rain  would  not  disturb  them; 
and  when  they  remained  in  camp  for  a  few  days 
at  a  time,  by  getting  a  few  boards  and  elevating 
the  tents,  they  did  finely. 

The  first  night  after  the  dog  tents  were  issued, 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  247 

the  boys — hundreds  of  them  —  it  was  midnight 
—  came  to  the  entrance  of  their  tents  and  barked, 
representing  all  the  variations  of  dog  music, 
from  the  gentle  whine  of  the  insignificant  cur, 
to  the  hoarse  voice  of  the  majestic  mastiff.  This 
novel  and  amusing  concert  was  kept  up  for  an 
hour  or  more.  Of  course  there  could  be  no 
sleeping  while  it  lasted.  With  such  pastimes  as 
these  the  boys  varied  the  tedious  monotony  of 
the  march,  and  prepared  for  the  sterner  duties 
of  the  battle  field. 


':  DOG  TENT  " 

On  the  2d  of  April,  two  of  the  boys  from  the 
48th  Ohio,  and  one  from  the  24th  Iowa,  were  out 
foraging.  They  were  caught  by  the  rebel  bush- 
whackers, and  one  of  them  shot.  Our  boys  felt 
very  indignant,  and  especially  so,  as  Gen.  Frank- 
lin had  thrown  constant  protection  around  those 
fellows  all  along  the  line  of  march.  And  yet 
the  flanks  and  rear  of  our  army  were  constantly 
annoyed  by  these'  cowardly  sneaks  —  men  who 
had  not  the  courage  to  enlist  and  tight  like  sol- 
diers, but  stood  at  their  gates  and  bowed  as  the 
army  passed,  and  then,  seeking  the  cover  of  the 
brush,  acted  their  mean,  contemptible  part  in  the 


248  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

capture  or  killing  of  our  men.  On  some  of  the 
residences  were  placards  bearing  the  inscription  : 
"NEUTRALITY  — FRENCH  PROTECTION 
HERE,"  and  the  French  flag  fluttered  in  the 
breeze.  But  the  western  boys  had  been  too  long 
in  the  service  to  show  much  respect  for  "  French 
protection  "  or  "  neutrality,"  and  even  Franklin's 
"  protection  "  availed  them  nothing,  for  the  boys 
showed  their  contempt  for  all  such  claims,  by 
acts  of  wholesale  destruction  as  they  passed 
along. 

On  Sunday,  April  3d,  Captain  Coulter  of  the 
48th  Ohio,  and  others,  preached  to  the  boys.  It 
was  a  quiet  day  for  all  those  who  appreciated  a 
day  of  rest  and  worship.  The  text  chosen  by 
Capt.  Coulter  was  from  Heb.  12  : 23-24.  The  ser- 
mon was  full  of  pathos  and  burning  hope.  Five 
days  after  this,  the  brave  young  captain  fell  mor- 
tally wounded  and  died  in  the  hands  of  his 
captors.  He  had  "  come  to  Mount  Zion,  to  the 
City  of  the  living  God,"  as  he  preached. 

At  last,  on  the  7th  of  April,  foot-sore  and 
weary,  the  troops  arrived  at  Pleasant  Hill,  having 
marched  three  hundred  miles  since  leaving 
Brashear  City.  The  boys  of  the  13th  Corps  felt  a 
good  deal  exasperated  at  the  treatment  they  had 
received  from  their  Commanding  General.  From 
the  time  they  left  Berwick  Bay  until  the  after- 
noon of  the  7th,  the  19th  Army  Corps  —  Banks' 
pets  —  or  as  some  of  our  boys  called  them, 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  249 

"Headquarters'  Pimps" — kept  the  front,  hav- 
ing every  advantage  of  forage,  and  of  freedom 
from  lagging  men  or  teams.  But  as  soon  as  the 
sound  of  battle  was  heard,  the  pets  were  halted, 
and  the  13th  Corps  was  sent  to  the  front. 

However,  as  the  first  duty  of  a  soldier  is  to 
obey  orders  without  question,  they  had  nothing 
to  do  but  to  face  the  music.  At  three  o'clock 
A.M.,  on  the  8th  of  April,  the  First  Brigade  of 
the  Fourth  Division,  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  to 
which  the  77th  now  belonged,  after  eating  a 
hasty  breakfast,  was  on  the  march  to  the  front 
to  relieve  the  cavalry  of  Gen.  Lee.  The  march 
was  slow  and  tedious,  as  the  night  was  dark. 
At  daylight  the  brigade  came  up  with  Gen.  Lee, 
who  had  advanced  about  ten  miles  from  Pleasant 
Hill,  and  was  still  advancing.  The  23d  Wis- 
consin and  67th  Indiana  were  deployed  and 
thrown  forward,  while  the  19th  Kentucky  and 
77th  Illinois,  were  held  in  reserve.  After  an 
advance  of  about  two  miles,  the  77th  relieved 
the  23d  and  67th,  which  in  turn  was  relieved  by 
the  19th  Kentucky.  This  advance  was  through 
a  heavy  pine  country,  quite  undulating,  and  as 
the  enemy — which  seemed  to  be  only  a  force  of 
cavalry — were  driven  from  one  hill,  they  would 
take  a  position  on  the  next.  Our  casualties  in 
this  running  tight  were  small.  The  greatest  loss 
sustained  by  the  77th,  was  in  the  death  of  Lieut. 

Col.  Webb.     He  was  in  the  act  of  asking  Gen. 
16 


250  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Lee  to  have  his  Regiment  relieved,  as  the  boys 
were  very  much  fatigued,  when  the  fatal  shot  of 
a  rebel  sharpshooter  struck  'him  just  below 
the  right  eye,  and  passing  through  the  head, 
came  out  behind  the  left  ear.  A  brave  man,  a 
good  soldier,  and  a  gentleman  in  every  sense  of 
the  word,  Col.  Webb  fell  with  his  face  to  the  foe, 
universally  respected  and  regretted. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  our  ad- 
vance came  to  an  open  field  to  the  left  of  the 
road,  and  at  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile  the  bat- 
tle flags  of  the  enemy  could  be  seen.  A  battery 
was  brought  forward  and  fired  a  few  shots,  but 
elicited  no  reply.  The  Regiment  then  advanced 
into  a  field  at  the  right  of  the  road,  crossed  a 
little  ravine  and  came  to  a  house  and  a  fence 
running  at  right  angles  with  the  line  of  inarch. 
Here  the  batteries  were  planted,  but  afterwards, 
when  the  hardest  battle  was  fought,  they  were 
of  no  avail.  Had  the  line  of  troops  been  formed 
at  this  point  and  consolidated,  instead  of  being 
scattered  as  they  were,  the  final  result  might 
have  been  different.  The  following  is  J.  H. 
Snyder's  account  of  the  battle  : 

"  We  advanced  across  another  field;  then  en- 
tered a  piece  of  timber.  Here  the  line  was 
formed  for  battle.  But  we  waited  nearly  an 
hour  before  the  engagement  began.  The  Sev- 
enty-Seventh halted  in  a  small  field  to  the  right 
of  the  road  that  had  timber  on  three  sides,  and 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  251 

and  while  here  tarrying,  a  cavalryman  of  the 
7th  Illinois  came  riding  up  to  us,  knowing  many 
of  our  boys,  and  informed  us  that  the  rebels  were 
advancing  in  three  columns,  and  would  soon 
engage  us.  Just  then  Gen.  Banks  ordered  the 
Division  forward,  the  77th  moving  to  the  right 
oblique.  Gen.  Ransom  had  protested  against 
engaging  the  enemy  with  the  troops  scattered, 
and  when  ordered  to  move  forward,  he  was  re- 
ported as  saying,  '  That  will  finish  me.' 

"  When  the  engagement  began  the  Third  Divi- 
sion was  in  the  rear  some  three  miles,  and  the 
19th  Corps  seven  miles.  Gen.  Smith  was  twenty 
miles  away.  The  Fourth  Division  numbered 
2,400  effective  men  on  that  morning,  and  this 
little  handful  of  men,  with  the  cavalry,  was 
brought  face  to  face  with  the  combined  armies 
of  Dick  Taylor  and  Kirby  Smith. 

"  The  line  had  advanced  scarcely  three  hun- 
dred yards  when  the  action  began.  The  rebels 
threw  their  line  upon  our  flanks,  telescoping  our 
line,  and  as  the  timber  was  densely  studded  with 
underbrush,  our  boys,  in  many  instances,  were 
entirely  surrounded  before  they  knew  it.  The 
line  being  flanked  —  the  movement  striking  our 
extreme  right  —  the  Regiments  fought  by  detail, 
and  by  detail  were  defeated.  As  the  timber  was 
dense  with  underbrush,  and  the  line  of  the  enemy 
constantly  advancing,  surging  around  farther 
and  farther  on  our  flank,  our  troops  were  placed 


252  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

in  the  dilemma  of  having  the  enemy  in  front  and 
rear.  The  77th  had  tired  several  rounds  before 
the  regiments  on  the  left  had  tired  a  shot. 

"The  column  thrown  into  confusion,  hundreds 
of  the  hoys  captured,  the  enemy  pressing  us 
from  all  quarters,  what  men  were  able  to  get  out 
of  the  tangle,  fell  back,  forming  a  line  on  the 
batteries  which  had  not,  as  yet,  fired  a  shot. 

"  When  the  second  line  was  formed  —  the  boys 
acting  without  organization,  for  in  falling  back, 
each  man  was  left  to  his  chances  —  the  batteries 
did  good  execution.  But  it  was  only  for  a  short 
time,  as  the  enemy  were  flanking  the  guns  and 
cutting  off  all  retreat. 

"  A  third  and  last  stand  was  made  at  the  timber 
to  the  rear  of  the  open  field.  But  this  was  merely 
a  feint,  for  the  road  being  narrow  and  the  timber 
dense,  and  impassable  for  horses  and  teams,  the 
rush  was  to  occupy  the  road,  and  consequently 
the  road  was  blocked,  cutting  off  all  retreat,  ex- 
cept in  the  most  confused  form.  Gen.  Banks 
moved  his  train  forward,  and  on  the  preparation 
for  engagement,  had  corralled  several  hundred 
wagons  in  the  open  field  to  the  left  of  the  road. 
In  the  confusion  of  retreat,  the  wagons  blocked 
the  road,  cutting  off  our  cavalry  and  artillery. 
The  result  was  the  loss  of  nearly  three  hundred 
wagons  and  the  Chicago  Mercantile  and  Nims' 
Batteries.  This  was  a  sad  loss  to  the  brave  men 
who  had  so  long  handled  these  guns.  The  Ninas 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  253 

Battery  had  participated  in  thirty  battles  without 
losing  a  gun,  and  now  to  lose  them  all,  filled  the 
boys  with  the  deepest  regret. 

"  We  fell  back  some  distance,  perhaps  a  half- 
mile  from  the  place  of  the  last  stand,  before  any 
relief  came,  when  the  Third  Division  met  us  and 
formed  their  line,  advancing  to  the  open  field, 
only  to  be  served  as  we  had  been.  The  Third 
Division  was  flanked  and  routed,  and  fell  back 
to  about  the  same  place  where  they  had  relieved 
us,  before  the  advance  of  the  19th  Corps  came 
up.  The  advance  was  a  Regiment  of  Zouaves, 
who  had  double-quicked  until  they  appeared 
exhausted  and  flushed.  But  forming  their  line, 
they  checked  for  the  time,  the  advancing  enemy, 
and  the  shadows  of  night  brought  an  end  to  the 
further  disasters  of  the  day. 

"No  one  will  ever  know  the  depth  of  shame 
our  hearts  experienced  over  this  defeat.  For  it 
was  a  manifest  display  of  the  profoundest  igno- 
rance of  the  proper  management  of  a  battle.  It 
was  and  is  our  understanding,  that  at  the  time 
of  the  opening  of  the  engagement,  the  Third 
Division  was  in  our  rear  some  three  miles,  and 
the  19th  Corps  some  seven  miles,  encamped  and 
drawing  rations  or  receiving  pay.  A  good  cor- 
poral could  have  exhibited  better  military 
wisdom  and  skill.  Gen.  Ransom  saw  the  fatal 
condition  of  the  attack,  when  he  remarked,  as 


254  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

he  pushed  forward  to  meet  the  advancing  rebel 
columns,  l  That  will  finish  me.' 

"  Man}7  brave  boys  were  killed  and  many  were 
captured.  The  77th  lost  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-one men,  the  19th  Kentucky  two  hundred 
and  fifty,  and  other  regiments  accordingly.  One 
hundred  and  forty-three  of  the  77th  boys,  with 
all  others  captured,  were  taken  to  Mansfield  and 
Shreveport  and  finally  to  Tyler,  Texas,  where 
they  lingered  in  a  rebel  prison  for  nearly  four- 
teen months,  returning  to  the  Regiment  just  at 
the  hour  of  •  its  discharge  from  the  service,  the 
cruel  war  being  over. 

"  The  77th  lost  Lieut.  Col.  Webb,  a  generous, 
impulsive,  respected  soldier.  He  seemed  to  feel 
a  portent  of  the  fate  that  awaited  him,  for  his 
spirits  wereTieavy;  and  yet  he  bravely  led  on  in 
the  line  of  duty.  Col.  Stone,  of  the  96th  Ohio, 
commanding  the  Brigade,  also  fell.  Also  Adju- 
tant General  Dickey,  of  Gen.  Ransom's  staif. 
Lieut.  Col.  Cowan,  an  intrepid  officer,  command- 
ing the  19th  Kentucky,  also  fell,  and  many 
others. 

"  It  is  said  that  when  the  zouaves  came  to  the 
front  and  then  fell  back,  a  rebel  was  in  pursuit, 
of  a  retreating  zouave,  and  another  rebel  drew 
his  gun  to  shoot  when  the  first  rebel  said,  '•Do  n't 
shoot,  I  want  to  catch  the  thing  alive.' ': 

Captain  John  D.  Rouse,  of  Company  "  G," 
who  was  at  that  time  on  staff  duty,  and  who 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  255 

was  well  qualified  to  judge,  wrote  as  follows  of 
this  disastrous  battle : 

"  Detachments  of  the  13th  and  19th  Army 
Corps  arrived  at  Pleasant  Hill  on  the  7th  instant, 
numbering  about  13,000  men.  General  Lee 
with  a  Brigade  of  Cavalry  advanced  three  or 
four  miles  beyond,  and  after  severe  skirmishing, 
drove  the  enemy  in  the  front  five  or  six  miles 
toward  Mansfield.  The  1st  Brigade,  4th  Divi- 
sion, 13th  Army  Corps,  to  which  the  77th  be- 
longs, moved  forward  at  3  o'clock  A.M.,  on  the 
6th,  to  the  support  of  General  Lee.  We  arrived 
at  his  camp  about  6  o'clock,  and  immediately 
took  the  front.  We  found  the  enemy  posted 
on  a  small  creek,  and  commenced  skirmishing 
with  him.  The  rebels  soon  abandoned  their 
position,  and  falling  back,  we  skirmished  with 
them  as  they  retreated,  about  ten  miles,  until 
two  o'clock  P.M.  We  had  now  reached  a  road 
branching  oft'  to  the  right,  leading  directly  to 
Mansfield.  Here  our  Brigade  halted  and  formed 
line  of  battle  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  sup- 
porting column.  The  2d  Brigade  soon  arrived 
and  extended  the  line  to  the  right.  Skirmishing 
went  on  briskly  until  about  four  o'clock,  when 
the  enemy  attacked  us  in  force.  Our  Division 
numbered  about  2,400  men,  and  our  line  was 
formed  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  with  an 
open  field  in  our  rear.  In  the  rear  of  the  field 
there  is  heavy  pine  timber,  which  extends  from 


256  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Pleasant  Hill  to  this  point,  almost  without  inter- 
ruption. We  had  been  skirmishing  for  ten 
miles,  and  having  but  forty  rounds  per  man,  our 
ammunition  was  getting  scarce.  The  3d  Divi- 
sion and  the  19th  Corps  encamped  nine  miles 
back. 

"  Under  these  circumstances  the  rebels  ad- 
vanced in  force,  and  attacked  our  2,400  infantry 
and  a  few  cavalry  with  20,000  men.  This  may 
seem  exaggerated,  but  the  prisoners  we  have,  all 
affirm  it,  and  so  do  the  facts.  The  77th  advanced 
about  thirty  paces  into  the  timber  to  meet  the 
rebel  advance,  and  found  five  to  one  within  a 
few  feet  of  them.  A  battle  began  along  the 
whole  line  simultaneously;  the  combatants  face 
to  face,  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other.  Our 
men  were  soon  out  of  ammunition,  and  without 
support  opposed  to  overwhelming  numbers. 
The  rebels  flanked  us  on  the  right  and  left,  and 
we  could  not  do  otherwise  than  retreat  across  the 
field  to  prevent  their  capturing  what  few  there 
were  of  us.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  the  77th 
Regiment  came  out  of  the  woods,  leaving  at 
least  a  hundred  whom  we  know  not  any  more. 
The  Division  again  formed  a  second  line  in  the 
edge  of  the  woods  back  of  the  field,  and  here 
began  one  of  the  most  terrific  fights  yet  re- 
corded. 

"  Bravely  and  well  did  the  old  4th  Division 
stand  up  to  the  work  here  for  more  than  one 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  257 

hour,  baffling  all  the  desperate  efforts  of  the 
enemy  until  the  3d  Division  came  to  our  relief. 
Our  little  force  was  fast  dwindling.  The  soldiers 
of  the  east  and  of  the  west  never  before  heard 
such  musketry,  and  all  admit  that  such  fierce 
fighting  ensued  as  has  never  before  taken  place 
during  the  war.  Another  hour  we  held  them, 
but  slowly  retiring  before  the  overwhelming 
force.  To  cap  the  climax  of  mismanagement, 
the  train  of  the  whole  army,  sixteen  miles  in 
length,  was  brought  up  to  the  front,  and  the 
road  blocked  up  so  that  our  artillery  could  not 
be  gotten  out.  We  could  not  always  resist 
against  such  great  odds.  For  two  hours  had  we 
opposed  five  times  our  numbers.  The  slaughter 
of  officers  was  immense,  and  the  men  having 
lost  their  officers,  and  being  without  support  and 
utterly  exhausted,  gave  way.  The  cavalry  dash- 
ing through  the  woods  to  the  rear,  created  a 
panic,  and  soon  such  a  rout  as  would  put  Bull 
Run  to  shame,  began.  Opportunely  at  this  time, 
General  Emery's  Division  of  the  19th  Corps 
came  up,  9,000  strong,  and  forming  his  line,  the 
pursuing  foe  suddenly  found  himself  opposed  by 
fresh  troops  who  hurled  him  back  with  a  mur- 
derous fire,  and  night  coming  on  closed  the 
contest. 

"  The  slaughter  on  both  sides  was  fearful. 
General  Ransom  was  dangerously  wounded. 
Colonels  Emerson  and  Vance,  commanding  re- 


258  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

spectively  the  1st  and  2d  Brigades  of  our  Divi- 
sion, were  wounded  and  captured. 

"  The  77th  Illinois  lost  ten  officers  out  of 
sixteen  engaged.  Our  Brigade  lost  thirty-two 
commissioned  officers  out  of  sixty-eight  line  and 
field.  Under  the  head  of  missing  are  included 
nearly  all  our  wounded  and  doubtless  many 
dead. 

"  If  the  whole  force  had  been  at  the  front  and 
the  train  at  the  rear,  we  might  report  a  glorious 
victory  instead  of  this.  Somebody  (and  the 
army  knows  who),  is  very  much  to  blame  for 
pushing  one  small  Brigade  nine  miles  ahead  of 
the  supporting  column  in  the  very  face  of  ten 
times  their  number.  This  same  Brigade  was  sent 
so  once  before  in  this  Department  at  Carrion 
Crow.  During  the  night  we  fell  back  to  Pleas- 
ant Hill  where  General  A.  J.  Smith  had  arrived 
with  7,000  fresh  troops  from  Sherman's  army. 
Here  we  chose  our  own  ground,  and  our  forces 
were  attacked  on  the  9th;  but  the  enemy  were 
driven  from  the  field  with  a  loss  of  10,000  killed 
and  wounded.  We  did  not  participate  in  the 
battle.  The  47th  Illinois  was  engaged,  but  their 
loss  was  light. 

"  Being  temporarily  on  staff  duty,  I  was  on  all 
parts  of  the  field  at  Mansfield,  and  I  never  saw 
troops  stand  up  so  well  under  such  a  tremendous 
fire.  Nothing  at  Vicksburg  ever  equaled  it. 
How  I  ever  escaped  to  tell  the  tale  is  wonderful. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  259 

Four  balls  passed  through  my  clothing,  and  my 
sword  was  shot  away,  but  my  flesh  is  whole. 

"  I  cannot  close  without  paying  a  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  our  lamented  Lieutenant  Colonel 
L.  R.  Webb.  He  was  shot  through  the  head 
and  killed  instantly,  during  our  skirmishing  in 
the  forenoon.  An  excellent  officer,  eminently 
courteous  and  social,  he  commanded  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  came  in  contact  with 
him,  and  his  loss  is  deeply  felt  by  his  comrades 
in  arms. 

"  The  fate  of  the  other  officers  is  uncertain, 
though  I  fear  many  of  them  are  either  wounded 
or  have  met  a  worse  fate.  Our  little  squad, 
which  we  gathered  together  the  next  morning, 
was  a  sad  representation  of  our  gallant  Regi- 
ment, which  went  forth  the  day  before,  but  we 
are  thankful  that  even  so  many  are  left." 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTEENTH. 


A.    J.    SMITH. 


>E  MIGHT  multiply  these  comments 
almost  indefinitely.  We  might  fill  a 
volume  with  statements  like  the  fore- 
going, all  tending  to  the  same  result  —  all  going 
to  show  the  criminal  mismanagement  of  those 
having  in  charge  the  cotton -foraging  expedi- 
tion on  Red  River.  But  it  is  unnecessary.  It 
only  remains  to  show  upon  whom  depended  the 
final  salvation  of  the  shattered  remnants  of  that 
magnificent  army.  A  correspondent  who  was  on 
the  field  wrote  as  follows : 

uOn  the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  Gen.  Smith  had 
one  of  the  severest  engagements  of  the  war,  but 
he,  being  something  of  a  General,  succeeded  in 
giving  the  enemy  what  they  had  given  us  — 
that  is  a  whipping.  He  recaptured  sixteen  pieces 
of  artillery,  but  was  not  able  to  take  them  off 
the  field,  but  destroyed  them.  He  also  captured 
some  five  hundred  prisoners,  and  some  of  our 
wagons  back,  and  as  I  write,  fell  back  to  this 
point,  where  he  will  prepare  again  to  meet  the 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  261 

enemy,  if  he  should  think  of  following,  which  I 
don't  think  he  will;  but  while  writing  this,  I  hear 
cannonading,  and  who  knows  what  may  come? 
I  will  not  predict,  however.  Now  let  me  say,  1 
think,  and  we  all  think,  we  might  just  as  well 
have  had  a  victory  as  a  defeat,  and  if  I  mistake 
not,  some  high  official  will  get  beheaded.  I  most 
sincerely  hope  so.  I  am  opposed  to  inconipe- 
tency  in  any  place,  more  particularly  in  the 
army.  Gen.  Smith  fought  his  own  men  and  won 
a  victory,  and  had  Gen.  Ransom  had  the  same 
privilege,  we  would  not  have  been  whipped.  Of 
one  thing  I  am  certain,  our  few  remaining  boys 
will  tight  no  more  under  such  commanders.  I 
for  one  do  not  blame  them.  I  may  be  severe, 
but  can  you  blame  me  when  I  see  it  is  sacrifice 
after  sacrifice?  We  were  always  victorious  until 
we  came  here,  and  we  would  be  so  here  if  we 
had  a  Grant  to  lead  us,  yes,  or  a  McClernand, 
who  is  buried  at  Pass  Cavallo  because  he  ranks 
Franklin,  and  the  noble,  brave  and  generous 
Ransom  is  sacrificed.  May  he  ventilate  this  as 
he  well  knows  how.  *  *  *  I  could  till  sheets 
with  incidents  of  the  battle.  Some  would  cause 
mirth,  some  tears;  all  would  move  the  hearts  of 
the  brave  to  do  battle  for  their  brothers  and  their 
country.  *  * 

The  following  extract  is  from  an  eastern  paper, 
published  a  few  days  after  the  battle : 

"  A  bearer  of  dispatches  from  Admiral  Porter, 


262  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

who  arrived  in  Washington  on  the  27th,  makes 
statements  calculated  to  greatly  damage  General 
Banks'  military  reputation.  He  says  that  on  the 
second  day,  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  whipped  the  rebels 
alone,  driving  them  six  miles.  He  was  in  hot 
pursuit,  eager  to  reap  all  the  fruits  of  victory, 
when  an  order  came  from  Gen.  Banks  directing 
him  to  retreat  with  the  rest  of  his  army.  Gen. 
Smith  refused  to  obey.  A  second  order  to  fall 
back,  he  also  refused  to  obey.  Finally  Gen.  Banks 
in  person,  brought  a  third  order  and  insisted  that 
Gen.  Smith  should  fall  back  before  daylight. 
He  begged  permission  to  stay  long  enough  to 
bury  his  dead  and  care  for  his  wounded  and  sick, 
if  only  till  an  hour  after  sunrise.  But  General 
Banks  was  inexorable,  and  General  Smith  was 
obliged,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  to  leave  his  men 
who  had  fallen  on  the  battle-field,  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  the  rebels.  He  carried  off  two  of  the 
twenty-three  cannon  which  the  rebels  abandoned, 
but  was  not  allowed  time  to  spike  the  remainder. 
While  our  forces  were  retreating  in  one  direc- 
tion, the  rebels  were  retreating  in  the  opposite 
direction. 

"  Some  hours  after  Gen.  Smith's  departure  the 
rebels  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  battle-field,  to 
ask  permission  to  bury  their  dead,  and  sought 
vainly  for  a  long  time  for  somebody  to  receive 
it.  A  few  miles  out  from  Alexandria,  General 
Banks  found  General  McClernand  with  six 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  263 

thousand  men  on  their  way  to  reenforce  him. 
He  ordered  him  to  fall  back  to  Alexandria  at 
once,  after  destroying  his  grain  and  supplies. 
McClernand  refused  twice  to  obey,  but  on  receipt 
of  the  third  order,  set  tire  to  a  part  of  his  oats. 

"  Gen.  Smith,  with  two  thousand  men,  took  the 
responsibility  of  marching  to  the  spot,  extin- 
guishing the  flames,  and  after  remaining  there  all 
night,  marched  back  again  with  the  residue,  and 
all  the  other  supplies.'.' 

GENERAL  A.  J.  SMITH,  AND  HE  ALONE,  WITH  HIS 

"  GUERRILLAS,"  SAVED  THE  ARMY  OF  GENERAL  BANKS 
FROM  FURTHER  DISASTER,  IF  NOT  FROM  TOTAL  DE- 
STRUCTION. 

In  order  to  give  a  full  and  official  statement 
of  some  of  the  movements  on  that  fatal  day,  the 
Report  of  Colonel  W.  J.  Landram,  commanding 
the^4th  Division,  is  herewith  appended.  It  will 
be  observed  that  this  gallant  officer,  while  he 
obeys  his  instructions  to  the  letter,  indulges  in 
no  fault-finding,  but  where  meritorious  conduct 
calls  for  official  commendation,  it  is  cheerfully 
given. 

HEADQUARTERS  4xn  DIVISION,  13TH  ARMY  CORPS.  ) 
GRAND  ECORE,  LA.,  April  12,  1864.         } 

CAPT.  OSCAR  MOHR. 

A.  A.  A.  O.  Detachment  13th  Army  Corps. 

Captain :     On  the    6th   iust.,  this  Divi- 
sion marched  from  Nachitoches,  La.,  in  the  rear 


264  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

of  the  Cavalry  of  Brigadier  General  Lee,  a 
distance  of  sixteen  miles  in  the  direction  of 
Pleasant  Hill  and  encamped  in  a  dense  wood 
near  a  bayou. 

On  the  7th  inst.,  the  command  marched  nine- 
teen miles  and  encamped  at  Pleasant  Hill. 

At  eleven  o'clock  P.M.  of  the  7th,  I  received 
orders,  of  which  the  following  are  copies: 

HEADQUARTERS,  U.  S.  FORCES, WEST  LA.,  ) 
April  7,  1864.         j 

General:  The  Commanding  General  directs 
that  a  Brigade  of  Infantry  be  sent  to  General 
Lee,  to  be  with  him  by  daylight  to-morrow 
morning.  You  may  use  your  discretion  as  to 
sending  a  Brigade  or  Division.  The  spirit  of 
the  order  will  doubtless  be  better  carried  out  by 
sending  a  Division. 

Send  therefore  a  Brigade  or  Division  to-  re- 
port to  General  Lee,  at  or  before  5  A.M.,  on 
to-morrow,  Friday,  8th  inst. 

Respectfully, 
(Signed.)  W.  B.  FRANKLIN, 

Major  Qeneral. 

T.  E.  G.  RANSOM, 

Brief.  Gen.  Com'd'y  Detachment  13th  Army  Corps. 

[Official.']         (Signed.)          C.  E.  DICKEY, 

Capt.  and  A.  A.  General. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DETACHMENT  13TH  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
PLEASANT  HILL,  LA.,  April  7,  10:20  P.M.         } 

Colonel:    In  obedience  to  the  enclosed  order, 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  265 

you  will  move  at  3  A.M.  to-morrow,  with  the 
First  Brigade  of  your  Division,  and  report  to 
General  Lee,  8  miles  in  front  at  daylight,  or  as 
soon  thereafter  as  possible. 

By  order  of 

(Signed.)   Brig.  General  T.  E.  G.  RANSOM. 
C.  E.  Dickey,  Capt.  and  A.  A.  General. 
COL.  W.  J.  LANDRAM, 

Commanding  4th  Division. 

In  obedience  to  these  orders,  I  moved  with 
the  First  Brigade  of  my  Division  at  the  time 
specified  and  reported  to  Brig.  General  Lee  very 
soon  after  daylight. 

By  order  of  General  Lee,  I  followed  his  ad- 
vance beyond  the  creek  a  short  distance  and 
was  ordered  to  take  the  front  and  drive  the 
enemy  with  which  the  Cavalry  was  then  skir- 
mishing. The  16th  Indiana  dismounted,  and 
probably  some  other  Regiment  of  General  Lee's 
command,  assisted  in  skirmishing  for  several 
miles. 

General  Lee  then  directed  that  I  relieve  all  of 
his  command  with  my  Infantry  and  drive  the 
enemy  as  rapidly  as  possible,  at  the  same  time 
ordering  his  Cavalry  to  the  right  and  left  of  the 
road  to  protect  my  flanks,  which  was  done.  The 
timber  on  each  side  of  the  road  was  heavy  and 
dense,  which  rendered  it  very  difficult  to  move 
in  line,  and  the  marching  was  tedious  and  tire- 
17 


266  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

some  to  the  men;  the  enemy  contesting  every 
foot  of  the  ground  as  we  advanced.  All  the 
houses  near  the  road  were  abandoned,  and  we 
saw  frequent  evidence  of  large  camps  which  had 
been  recently  deserted. 

The  enemy  were  thus  driven  nine  miles  or 
more  beyond  the  camp  of  General  Lee,  making 
an  obstinate  resistance  the  whole  time.  The 
credit  of  this  advance  is  due  the  23d  Wisconsin, 
19th  Kentucky,  77th  Illinois  and  67th  Indiana 
Regiments,  Vol.  Infantry.  Lieut.  Col.  L.  R. 
Webb,  of  the  77th  Illinois,  an  accomplished 
gentleman  and  gallant  officer,  was  killed  while 
commanding  his  Regiment  in  the  advance.  The 
number  of  casualities  was  not  large,  only  a  few 
being  wounded. 

At  a  point  said  to  be  four  miles  from  Mans- 
field, our  advance  came  in  sight  of  a  wide  open- 
ing in  the  timber,  in  front  of  a  hill  of  consider- 
able height;  on  the  right,  left  and  top  of  which 
there  was  considerable  timber,  but  not  as  thickly 
set  as  on  the  road  over  which  we  had  advanced. 

I  had  made  frequent  requests  before  coming  to 
this  point,  to  have  the  Brigade  relieved  or 
allowed  to  rest,  inasmuch  as  the  men  were  ex- 
cessively fatigued  by  the  loss  of  sleep  and  the 
difficulty  experienced  in  advancing  through  the 
underbrush,  which  seemed  to  extend  for  miles 
to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road,  and  was  in- 
formed by  Gen.  Lee  that  he  had  sent  for  the  2d 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  267 

Brigade  of  my  Division  to  relieve  the  first.  Be- 
lieving that  the  position  in  my  immediate  front, 
was  too  strong  to  be  abandoned  by  the  enemy 
without  stubborn  resistance,  I  expressed  the 
opinion  to  Gen.  Lee  that  it  would  be  dangerous 
to  send  the  19th  Kentucky,  which  was  then  de- 
ployed as  skirmishers,  through  the  opening  to 
the  top  of  the  hill,  without  a  heavy  support.  By 
his  direction,  however,  I  ordered  the  Regiment, 
with  the  remainder  of  the  Brigade  in  support, 
to  advance,  and  covered  their  movements  by  a 
fire  from  two  guns  of  a  Battery,  which  had  been 
ordered  to  report  to  me  during  the  day.  The 
enemy  soon  disappeared,  and  I  formed  line  with 
the  Brigade  on  the  side  and  top  of  the  hill. 

In  the  meantime  Major  General  Banks  and 
Brigadier  General  Ransom  arrived,  and  upon 
consultation,  I  believe  it  was  decided  to  halt  at 
that  point.  About  one  and  a  half  or  two  hours 
must  have  elapsed  before  my  other  Brigade 
arrived,  during  which  time  the  enemy  made 
scarcely  any  show  in  front.  On  our  right,  how- 
ever, there  were  frequent  indications  of  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy  moving  by  the  left  flank, 
endeavoring  to  get  a  position  upon  onr  right, 
parallel  with  the  road.  This  induced  me  to 
commence  changing  front,  so  as  to  face  them  if 
they  came  down  the  road  from  Mansfield,  or  ad- 
vanced in  line  from  a  road  on  our  right  parallel 
with  the  road  upon  which  we  had  moved,  and  as 


268  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

fast  as  they  extended  their  line,  I  extended  mine, 
so  as  to  effectually  cover  my  front  and  right 
flank.  At  half-past  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  enemy 
placed  his  line,  said  by  prisoners  to  be  eight 
thousand  infantry,  with  a  reserve  of  twelve 
thousand  cavalry  and  infantry,  in  motion. 

My  force  consisted  of  the  following  troops: 

First  Brigade. — Colonel  Frank  Emerson,  67th 
Indiana,  commanding. 

19th  Regiment  Kentucky  Vol.  Inf.,  Lieut.  Col. 
John  Cowan,  commanding. 

23d  Regiment  Wisconsin  Vol.  Inf.,  Maj.  J.  E. 
Greene,  commanding. 

77th  Regiment  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  Major  John 

A.  Burdett,  commanding. 

67th  Regiment  Indiana  Vol.  Inf.,  Major  F.  A. 
Sears,  commanding. 

Second  Brigade. — Colonel  J.  W.  Vance,  96th 
Ohio,  commanding. 

96th  Regiment  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  Lieut.  Col.  A. 
H.  Brown,  commanding. 

83d  Regiment  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  Lieut.  Col.  W. 
H.  Baldwin,  commanding. 

48th  Regiment  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  Lieut  Col.  J.  W. 
Liudsey,  commanding. 

130th  Regiment  Illinois  Vol.  Inf.,  Maj.  John 

B.  Reid,  commanding. 

The  entire  force  numbered  2,413  men. 

It  would  have  been  impossible  at  that  time  to 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  269 

have  retired  from  the  position  we  occupied,  and 
by  direction  of  Brigadier  General  Ransom,  who 
had  arrived  upon  the  field  and  assisted  in  person 
in  arranging  the  line,  I  assumed  the  offensive  as 
soon  as  I  saw  their  whole  line  advancing,  so  as 
to  meet  them  upon  better  ground,  and  with  a 
better  effect.  A  general  engagement  ensued, 
lasting  one  hour  and  a  half,  which  was  by  far 
the  most  desperate  I  ever  witnessed.  Some 
parts  of  the  line  were  broken,  after  a  short  but 
terrific  engagement,  but  in  other  parts  it  re- 
mained firm  and  unbroken  until  the  enemy  had 
flanked  my  whole  force  and  began  to  attack  in 
the  rear.  Seeing  that  the  capture  of  the  entire 
force  was  inevitable  unless  I  withdrew,  I  ordered 
the  remainder  of  the  shattered  Regiments  to 
fall  back,  which  they  attempted,  but  were  una- 
ble to  do  with  entire  success. 

The  list  of 'the  killed  and  wounded  of  my 
command  cannot  be  ascertained,  inasmuch  as 
the  enemy  retained  possession  of  the  field; 
but  that  we  suffered  severly  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  Many  brave  men  fell,  but  they  fell  with 
their  faces  to  the  foe.  Honored  be  their  memory  ! 

That  the  enemy  suffered  immensely,  is  known 
by  actual  observation,  and  by  statements  of  pris- 
oners captured  the  day  following,  who  acknowl- 
edged that  they  had  purchased  a  victory  at  a 
bloody  price. 

Colonel  J.    W.    Vance,    commanding.  Second 


270  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH  * 

Brigade,  fell  mortally  wounded  while  gallantly 
cheering  his  men.  Colonel  Frank  Emerson, 
commanding  First  Brigade,  also  fell  wounded 
while  nobly  performing  his  duty,  and  is  a  pris- 
oner in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Major  Reid, 
of  the  130th  Illinois  was  badly  wounded  while 
rallying  his  men.  Lieut.  Col.  Lindsey,  of  the 
48th  Ohio,  was  captured,  and  Major  Bering,  of 
the  same  Regiment,  wounded. 

Lieut.  Col.  Cowan,  19th  Kentucky,  was  con- 
spicuous for  the  manner  in  which  he  managed 
his  Regiment,  directing  the  fire  of  his  men  and 
preserving  up  to  the  order  of  retreat  an  un- 
broken line,  driving  the  rebels  from  his  front  in 
three  distinct  charges,  and  ordering  the  fire  in 
which  it  is  believed  the  rebel  general  Mouton 
was  killed,  while  leading  a  charge  carrying  a 
regimental  fiag.  When  ordered  to  withdraw, 
he  remarked  that  he  had  driven  the  rebels  from 
his  front,  and  if  the  remainder  of  the  line  stood 
firm  he  could  not  be  taken.  In  endeavoring  to 
obey  the  order,  he  was  wounded  and  captured. 
Major  Mann,  of  the  same  Regiment,  was  cap- 
tured. 

To  Major  Greene,  and  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  23d  Wisconsin,  for  the  manly  and  noble 
manner  in  which  they  supported  the  battery  and 
held  the  left  of  the  line  until  further  resistance 
was  impossible,  I  desire  to  express  my  admira- 
tion and  gratitude.  Major  Sears  and  the  gallant 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  271 

67th  Indiana,  Major  Burdett  and  the  brave  men 
of  the  77th  Illinois,  deserve  the  highest  praise 
for  their  conduct.  The  officers  and  men  of  the 
130th  Illinois  and  48th  Ohio,  deserve  equal 
praise.  Though  the  survivors  mourn  the  loss  of 
their  gallant  field  officers,  they  have  the  conso- 
lation of  knowing  that  they  all  did  their  duty. 
Lieut.  Colonel  Brown,  of  the  96th  Ohio,  and  the 
men  of  his  Regiment,  as  well  as  Lieut.  Col. 
Baldwin,  and  the  officers  and  men  of  the  83d 
Ohio,  are  entitled  to  my  warmest  thanks  for 
their  gallantry  in  holding  the  right  of  the  line 
until  overpowered  by  vastly  superior  numbers. 
The  conduct  of  the  19th  Kentucky  was  worthy 
of  all  praise,  and  I  thank  them  for  their  gal- 
lantry upon  this,  as  upon  all  other  occasions. 

The  Chicago  Mercantile  Battery,  Lieut.  Cone, 
commanding,  and  the  First  Indiana  Battery, 
Capt.  Klauss,  commanding,  came  upon  the  field 
about  4  P.M.,  and  delivered  a  very  destructive 
fire  upon  the  advancing  line  of  the  enemy. 

The  officers  and  men  of  these  two  Batteries 
deserve  great  praise  for  their  coolness  and  cour- 
age. Many  of  their  horses  were  killed,  but  they 
succeeded  in  getting  their  pieces  into  the  road, 
when  ordered  to  fall  back,  and  would  have  saved 
their  guns  but  for  the  immense  wagon-train  of 
the  Cavalry  which  blocked  up  the  road  in  their 
front  and  rear. 

Capt.  White  and  Lieut.  Cone,  Mercantile  Bat- 


272  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

tery,  were  captured.  Lieut.  Throop  and  Lieut. 
Barr,  of  the  same  Battery,  were  wounded  and 
captured. 

Lieut.  Rogue,  2d  New  York  Veteran  Cavalry, 
with  his  company,  was  with  me  during  the  day, 
and  behaved  well.  Two  men  of  his  company 
were  wounded. 

Brig.  General  Ransom,  commanding  Detach- 
ment of  the  13th  Army  Corps,  rode  the  entire 
length  of  our  line,  cheering  the  troops,  and 
assisting  in  rallying  the  men  after  the  line  had 
been  broken.  This  gallant  and  able  officer  was 
severely  wounded  while  assisting  me  in  trying 
to  reform  the  line,  and  after  he  fell  from  his 
horse,  continued  to  give  directions  as  to  the  dis- 
positions he  desired  to  make. 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  Captain  Ninas'  Battery 
displayed  during  the  whole  fight,  a  noble  exam- 
ple of  coolness  and  true  courage.  They  are 
entitled  to  the  highest  commendation,  and 
although  they  lost  their  guns,  it  is  due  to  them 
to  say,  that  they  could  not  have  prevented  it, 
and  that  the  damage  they  inflicted  upon  the 
enemy  was  such  as  to  entitle  them  to  the  thanks 
of  the  whole  army. 

Major  Generals  Banks  and  Franklin,  and 
Brigadier  General  Stone  were  active  in  assisting 
to  rally  the  men  amidst  the  hottest  of  the  fire. 

Part  of  the  men  were  rallied,  and  a  second  line 
formed  near  the  line  of  Brig.  Gen.  Cameron,  who 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  273 

had  arrived  with  the  3d  Division  13th  Army 
Corps,  but  it  was  unable  to  resist  the  continued 
assaults  of  the  enemy,  who  pressed  upon  us  with 
overwhelming  numbers. 

Brig.  General  Emery,  with  the  First  Division 
of  the  19th  Army  Corps,  having  arrived  about 
sunset,  checked  the  further  advance  of  the  enemy, 
and  after  dark  I  caused  h' res  to  be  built  a  short  dis- 
tance in  rear  of  the  line  on  both  sides  of  the  road, 
and  gathered  together  the  shattered  remains  of 
my  Division,  which,  together  with  what  came  in 
at  Pleasant  Hill  next  day,  amounted  to  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-three  men,  who 
were  immediately  reorganized  and  placed  on 
duty. 

I  thank  Lieut.  Henry  P.  Ayres,  77th  Illinois, 
A.  A.  A.  G.;  Lieut.  John  Landram,  19th  Ken- 
tucky, Aid  de  Camp;  Capt.  J.  W.  Wilkin,  130th 
Illinois;  Capt.  D.  C.  Holdridge,  23d  Wisconsin, 
Inspector  General,  and  Capt.  R.  H.  Brock,  77th 
Illinois,  for  their  gallantry  and  efficiency.  They 
were  all  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
duty. 

It  is  impossible  to  tell  who  were  killed,  who 
were  wounded  and  who  were  taken  prisoners, 
but  my  total  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  prison- 
ers, is  seventy-three  officers,  and  one  thousand 
and  sixty-three  enlisted  men,  making  an  aggre- 
gate of  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty-six. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  Rev.  James  Mathews, 


274  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Chaplain  of  the  19th  Kentucky,  who   gave  me 
valuable  information  at  a  critical  moment. 

Lieut.  G.  11.  McKinney,  A.  A.  Q.  M.,  is  entitled 
to  praise  for  care  and  attention  to  the  Division 
Train,  none  of  which  was  captured. 

Capt.  Rouse,  77th  Illinois,  A.  A.  A.  G.;  Capt. 
Vilas,  23d  Wisconsin,  Aid  de  Camp;  Capt.  Hogg, 
19th  Kentucky,  Inspector  First  Brigade;  Capt. 
Lynch,  48th  Ohio,  Inspector  Second  Brigade, 
were  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  and 
deserve  praise  for  their  conduct.  In  this  report 
of  the  part  taken  by  my  Division  in  the  battle 
of  Mansfield,  or  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  I  have 
thought  proper  to  be  thus  particular  in  specify- 
ing the  conduct  of  Regiments  and  officers,  inas- 
much as  Commanders  of  Brigades,  and  most  of 
the  field  officers  of  Regiments,  were  among  the 
killed  and  wounded,  and  none  left  to  make 
reports.  Respectfully, 

"W".  J.  LANDRAM, 

Colonel  19th  Kentucky,  Commanding  Division. 

Before  proceeding  further  with  the  harrowing 
details,  it  becomes  necessary  to  insert  the  list  of 
the  losses  in  the  Seventy-Seventh  Regiment,  as 
given  officially  by  Col.  Grier,  after  the  fate  of  the 
officers  and  men  became  known.  In  this  list, 
the  names  of  the  prisoners  —  numbering  one 
hundred  and  forty-three  —  are  omitted,  but  will 
be  inserted  hereafter,  when  we  come  to  write  of 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  275 

"Prison  Life.5'  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  list 
of  killed  was  light  compared  with  the  wounded 
and  prisoners.  But  it  was  heavy  enough  to 
cause  heart-strings  to  snap,  and  hearthstones  to 
remain  forever  desolate. 

Official  list  of  officers  arid  men  of  the  77th 
Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  in  the  action  of  the  8th 
of  April,  1864,  at  Mansfield,  La. : 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Killed  —  LYSANDER  R.  WEBB,  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

"  A."  filled—  Private  Samuel  S.  Divilbiss. 

"B."  Killed—  Privates  Jacob  Ely,  Philip  Nelling. 

Wounded — Sergeant  William  Dugan;  Privates  Sam- 
uel Vanhorn,  George  Chambers  (mortally),  Roger 
Ong,  Franklin  Smith. 

"  C."    Wounded —  Corporal  Samuel  M.  Hart. 

"  D."   Wounded  —  Private  Albert  De  Long  (mortally). 
Missing — Private  William  H.  Cassel. 

"  E."    Wounded— Private  Otis  B.  Smith. 
"  F."  Killed  —  Corporal  Hosea  Johnson. 

"G."  Killed — First  Sergeant  William  W.  Miller;   Private 
Francis  O.  Dimmick. 

Wounded  —  Sergeant  Cyrus  H.  Stock  well  (mortally); 
Corporal  Francis  W.  Griswold;  Privates  Daniel  F. 
Ogden,  Moses  Fisher,  James  A.  Grissom. 
Missing  —  Private  Franklin  Stanton. 

"  H."  Killed— Private  Isaac  Grove. 

Wounded  —  Corporal  William  H.  Addis;  Private 
Stephen  W.  Maring. 

"K."  Killed  —  Private  J.  Henry  Brown. 

Wounded  —  Sergeant  Richard  M.  Holt;  Private 
Henry  Largent. 


276 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


RECAPITULATION. 


Killed. 

Wounded. 

Missing. 

Prisoners. 

Field  and  Staff,         1 

0 

0 

2 

Company 

'A,' 

4 

0 

0 

35 

'B,' 

2 

5 

0 

10 

"C/ 

0 

1 

0 

8 

'IV 

0 

1 

"1 

10 

'E,' 

0 

1 

0 

13 

<F,' 

1 

0 

0 

25 

'G,' 

2 

5 

1 

9 

'H,' 

-i 

2 

0 

9 

"V 

UTf  1 

0 

1 

0 

9 

0 
n 

7 

IK 

Totals, 


17 


143 


Here  is  a  grand  total  loss  —  including  prisoners 
—  of  nearly  one-half  of  the  entire  Regiment. 
If  the  loss  of  brave  soldiers  is  the  standard  of 
military  glory,  the  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers achieved  glory  enough  for  one  day  in  the 
battle  of  Mansfield,  La. 

Such  was  the  disastrous  conclusion  of  this  dis- 
astrous affair.  Our  losses  were  counted  by  hun- 
dreds of  killed  and  wounded,  thousands  of 
prisoners,  many  pieces  of  artillery,  and  whole 
wagon-trains  loaded  heavily  with  ordnance  and 
commissary  stores.  It  is  said  that  among  the 
trophies  captured  by  the  rebels,  was  a  wagon 
load  of  paper  colars,  which  they,  not  needing  at 
the  time,  very  generously  proposed  to  exchange 
with  General  Banks  for  "hard  tack."  Kirby 
Smith  is  also  reported  to  have  said  that  General 
Banks  was  the  best  Commissary  Sergeant  he  had 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  277 

in  his  army.  But  our  own  boys  were  unwilling 
that  he  should  wear  such  an  exalted  title,  and 
they  called  him  "Corporal  Banks."  On  one 
occasion,  the  General  hearing  this  epithet  applied 
to  him,  remarked,  "Never  mind,  boys,  Corporal 
Banks  will  come  out  all  right  in  the  end."  And 
he  did  come  out  all  right  —  when  he  came  out 
of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  relieved  of  his 
command.  Some  of  the  boys,  with  an  ear  for 
music  and  with  little  reverence  for  the  "  Cor- 
poral," immortalized  the  grand  fizzle  by  asso- 
ciating it  with  a  popular  song,  in  the  following 
style : 

"  In  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-four, 
When  Banks  skedaddled  from  Grand  Ecore, 

We'll  all  drink  stone  blind, 

Johnny  fill  up  the  bowl." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  Dr.  Geo.  L.  Lucas,  Surgeon  in  Chief  of 
the  First  and  Third  Divisions,  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps,  dated  Grand  Ecore,  April  16, 1864  : 

"The  77th  Illinois  was  terribly  used  on  the 
8th.  They  were  in  front  all  day;  fought  with 
desperation,  but  were  overwhelmed.  Those  of 
the  Regiment  who  escaped  (130)  were  in  no  con- 
dition to  take  part  on  the  9th.  The  gallant 
Lieut.  Col.  Webb  was  killed,  being  struck  by  two 
balls  at  the  same  time,  one  of  which  entered  the 
brain.  *  *  *  It  is  impossible  to  measure  the 
indignation  of  this  army  against  Gen.  Banks. 


278  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Everybody  sits  up  to  the  "wee  sma'  hours"  over 
the  matter  —  the  profane  to  weave  new  curses 
about  his  head,  and  the  moral  few  to  chime  in 
with  hearty  amens  I " 

While  the  enemy  was  retreating  from  the  field 
of  blood  and  disaster,  one  of  Gen.  Banks'  staff 
officers,  in  riding  past  the  Seventy-Seventh, 
inquired,  "  What  Regiment  is  that  ?  "  Finch,  of 
Company  "  I,"  replied  in  his  peculiar  drawling 
manner,  "  It's-the-second-relief -  of-  Gen.-  Banks' 
slaughter-pen." 

And  now  to  show  the  audacity  and  cringing 
subserving  of  the  New  Orleans  press,  one  or  two 
incidents  may  be  mentioned.  At  the  time  of 
this  campaign,  the  writer  of  these  pages  was  in 
garrison  at  Fort  St.  Philip,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi.  One  day  a  steam  transport  came 
down  the  river  bringing  copies  of  the  New  Or- 
leans Era,  and  in  looking  over  the  paper,  we  saw 
at  the  head  of  one  column  the  representation  of 
a  huge  cannon,  belching  forth  flame,  smoke  and 
the  missiles  of  death,  and  just  beneath  the  pic- 
ture, the  gratifying  announcement — gratifying 
if  it  had  been  true  —  in  large  capitals  with 
exclamation  points : 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  279 


GLORIOUS  VICTORY!! 

And  yet  the  vessel  which  brought  this  news  was 
going  to  Pass  Cavallo,  with  the  wings  of  steam, 
for  reinforcements  to  assist  in  extricating  Gen. 
Banks  from  his  perilous  position. 

On  another  occasion,  as  the  writer  was  going 
to  New  Orleans  on  the  steamer  "  Suffolk,"  he 
formed  a  casual  acquaintance  with  a  gentleman 
who  represented  himself  as  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  New  Orleans  Times.  This  gentleman 
was  on  Red  River  during  the  campaign,  appar- 
ently as  a  newspaper  correspondent  —  in  reality  as 
a  cotton  speculator.  Rewrote  a  glowing  account 


280 


THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


of  the  "glorious  victory,"  and  sent  it  to  the 
Times.  After  having  concluded  his  article,  he 
wrote  the  following  private  postscript  to  the 
editor  of  the  paper : 

"  You  can  publish  the  foregoing  account  of  the 
recent  campaign  if  you  see  proper,  but  you  un- 
derstand, confidentially,  that  it  is  all  a  d—d  lie" 


CHAPTER  THE  FIFTEENTH. 


PRISON   LIFE. 


TIRING  those  terrible  four  years  of  civil 
hi]  war  there  was  much  of  suffering  and  pri- 
vation on  the  march — disease  and  death 
were  frequent  visitors  in  the  camp  and  the  hos- 
pital —  there  was  danger  on  the  battle  field.  But 
all  these  evils  were  fearfully  intensified  in  the  ex- 
perience of  those  of  our  comrades  who  were  so 
unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  rebel  hands  as  pris- 
oners of  war.  We  will  now  turn  aside  for  a 
short  time  in  order  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  our 
Seventy-Seventh  boys  who  were  captured  at 
Mansfield,  and  who  spent  more  than  thirteen 
long  weary  months  in  a  rebel  stockade  at  Camp 
Ford,  Tyler,  Texas.  Before  doing  so,  however, 
we  will  give  the  list  of  prisoners,  as  officially 
reported  by  Colonel  Grier. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Charles  Winnie,  Major  and  Surgeon. 
John  S.  McCulloch,  Captain  and  Chaplain. 
18 


282  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

COMPANY  "  A." 

Captain. —  Gardner  G.  Stearns. 

Sergeants. — 'William  H.  Wilcox,  John  X.  Grif- 
fith, Henry  Wilson. 

Corporal. — Henry  A.  Barber. 

Privates. —  A.  J.  Abraham,  Henry  G.  Arrns^ 
James  S.  Coe,  Daniel  B.  Cutler,  Isaac  Conner, 
Henry  Crow,  Benjamin  F.  Downard,  Thomas 
Edson,  Edward  F.  Green,  Conrad  J.  Haller, 
Charles  C.  Hope,  W.  H.  Kroessen,  Thomas 
Lynch,  James  M.  McGraw,  James  Mather,  T. 
W.  Neander,  William  Ott,  Theodore  Perkins, 
Joseph  Rarnbo  (wounded),  John  S.  Rambo,  Julius 
Rambo,  John  P.  Randall,  Luther  G.  Russell, 
Alfred  Russell,  William  Smith,  James  H.  Tarlton. 
William  S.  Tree,  Mason  M.  White,  George 
Woodmansee,  Benjamin  T.  Wills. 

COMPANY  "  B." 

Captain. — Joe  H.  Stevison. 

Sergeant. —  Lyman  S.  Calkins. 

Corporal. —  Augustus  Schermeman. 

Privates. — John  Alexander,  Hiram  Kroft,  John 
A.  Roberts  (wounded),  David  Simpson,  George 
N.  Woodring  (wounded),  Allen  Woodring,  Wil- 
liam A.  West. 

COMPANY  "  C." 

Captain. — Joseph  M.  McCulloch. 

Second  Lieutenant. —  Charles  F.  McCulloch. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  283 

Sergeant.' — Alfred  G.  Thorn. 

Privates. —  Philo  W.  Gallup,  C.  L.  Gen  no  way, 
John  Kennedy,  T.  H.  McCulloch,  Joseph  T. 
Sims. 

COMPANY  "  D." 

Corporals. —  James  Scoon,  Samuel  Hadlock, 
Joseph  Wills. 

Privates. —  George  W.  Brewer,  George  W.  De 
Long,  Thomas  Davis,  Frederick  W.  Hake,  Ben- 
jamin J.  Jackson,  Apollos  Laughlin,  William 

Wilson. 

COMPANY  "E." 

Second  Lieutenant. —  Henry  L.  Bushnell. 

Sergeant  —  Henry  E.  Slough. 

Corporals — Leonard  T.  White,  Robert  W. 
Summers. 

Privates  —  John  Buttrick,  John  Cook,  Joseph 
Fulton,  Thomas  Forbes,  Frederick  Gutting,  John 
S.  Hammerbacher,  Joseph  T.  Mills,  Jacob  Mau- 
kle,  Cheney  W.  Thurston. 

COMPANY  "  F." 

Sergeants. — Lewis  Hamrick,  George  Lawrence, 
Ephraim  S.  Stoddard. 

Corporals. —  William  Fowler,  Francis  Hatton, 
William  Aid. 

Privates. —  Charles  Aid,  John  Arrowsmith, 
Joseph  Buckman,  Jesse  Crossen,  John  D.  Ham- 
rick,  Solomon  Johnson,  David  B.  Macey,  James 
Miner,  Allen  T.  Mitchell,  George  W.  Norman, 


284  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

David  Nighswonger,  Harmon  Seifert,  Alfred 
Snell,  Alonzo  D.  Stoddard,  Marshall  Smiley 
(wounded),  Thomas  Thurman,  John  Trump,  Wil- 
liam H.  West,  Richard  R.  Wilkinson. 

COMPANY  "  G." 

First  Lieutenant. —  Henry  J.  Wyman. 

Corporal. —  Gaylord  Robinson. 

Privates. —  Daniel  Beck,  William  Collister, 
Stephen  J.  Cook,  John  S.  Hirst,  Elias  Martin 
(wounded),  Daniel  W.  Shinmell,  Jesse  J.  Purcell 

(wounded). 

COMPANY  "  H." 

Sergeants. —  Valentine  P.  Peabody,  Hiram  Liv- 
ingston. 

Corporal. —  Henry  Smith. 

Privates. —  Leo  Julg,  Alfred  B.  Poage,  Nor- 
man D.  Richards,  John  M.  Spandeau,  John  M. 
Smith,  William  Swendeman. 

COMPANY  "  I." 

Sergeant. —  Rufus  Atherton. 

Corporals. —  George  M.  Dixon,  Eli  H.  Plow- 
man. 

Privates. —  Isaac  Brown,  Asa  A.  Cook,  Rich- 
ard Cowley,  Alexander  A.  Thurman. 

COMPANY  "  K." 

First  Lieutenant. —  Sylvester  S.  Edwards. 
Second  Lieutenant. —  Marcus  0.  Harkuess. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  285 

Sergeants. —  Servetus  Holt,  Andrew  J.  Vleit 
{wounded.} 

Corporals. —  Ephraim  R.  Shepard  (wounded), 
Lawrence  Ibeck,  William  Race,  James  M. 
Moody. 

Privates. — John  Greenhalgh,  John  Haynes, 
John  Ibeck,  Madison  Largent,  Jacob  Lafollett, 
Edward  R.  White,  Joseph  Yerbey. 

These  men  —  one  hundred  and  forty-three  in 
number — were  captured  at  different  times  during 
the  progress  of  the  battle.  Those  who  were  first 
taken  were  marched  to  the  rebel  rear,  and  placed 
under  guard  in  an  open  field  about  a  mile  from 
Mansfield,  where  they  remained  during  the 
night,  while  those  who  were  taken  later  in  the 
day  were  marched  into  the  town  and  placed  in 
the  court-house  and  the  yard  surrounding  it. 
While  here,  they  had  an  opportunity  of  learning 
something  about  the  rebel  losses  in  that  sanguin- 
ary battle.  During  the  whole  night,  wagon 
loads  of  dead  and  wounded  arrived  in  town,  and 
great  lamentation  was  heard  among  the  friends 
of  the  fallen.  A  regiment  of  Louisiana  troops, 
numbering  twelve  hundred  men,  and  many  of 
them  citizens  of  the  town  and  vicinity,  was 
almost  annihilated.  It  was  evidently  a  dearly- 
bought  victory. 

On  the  morning  after  the  battle,  the  prisoners 
were  ordered  to  fall  in,  and  were  started  off  in 


286  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

the  direction  of  Shreveport.  In  all,  they  num- 
bered ahout  eleven  hundred  men.  After  march- 
ing sixteen  miles,  they  were  halted  and  went  into 
camp  for  the  night,  and  for  the  first  time  since 
their  capture,  they  had  rations  issued  to  them. 
These  consisted  of  corn  meal  and  salt  beef,  with 
no  vessels  of  any  kind  to  cook  them  in.  The 
rations  were  bad  enough,  but  the  cooking  ar- 
rangements were  worse. 

After  the  second  night,  an  arrangement  was 
made  by  which  a  better  state  of  things  prevailed. 
The  guards  left  a  detail  of  their  own  number  in 
camp  every  morning  to  do  the  cooking  for  them- 
selves, and  then,  overtaking  the  guards  and 
prisoners  before  camping  time  in  the  evening, 
would  give  their  cooking  utensils  to  the  pris- 
oners, who  would  cook  by  turns  during  the 
whole  nightt  and  thus  they  managed  to  prepare 
their  scanty  rations. 

A  day  or  two  after  leaving  Mansfield,  a  courier 
arrived  with  orders  to  change  the  line  of  march 
in  the  direction  of  Marshall,  Texas,  and  they 
arrived  at  that  place  on  the  13th.  There  was 
great  curiosity  among  the  people  to  see  the  cap- 
tured "  Yankees,"  and  the  whole  population  of 
the  city  and  surrounding  country,  seemed  to  be 
present  to  see  the  circus.  As  our  boys  marched 
through  the  streets  of  the  city,  they  treated  the 
citizens  to  the  music  of  that  stirring  battle-song : 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  287 

"  The  Union  forever,  hurrah,  boys,  hurrah, 
Down  with  the  traitors,  up  with  the  stars, 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again, 
Shouting  the  battle  cry  of  freedom." 

Some  of  the  ladies  protested  loudly  against 
what  they  considered  a  profanation  of  the  atmos- 
phere surrounding  their  sacred  persons,  and 
called  upon  the  officer  of  the  guard  to  stop  the 
music.  But  that  worthy  paid  no  attention  to 
their  demands,  and  the  show  continued,  much  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  guard  and  the  prisoners, 
and  the  vexation  and  annoyance  of  the  spec- 
tators. 

While  on  this  march  the  boys  saw  many  of  the 
planters  of  Louisiana  with  groups  of  slaves,  hur- 
rying to  the  interior  of  Texas,  in  order  to  be  at 
a  safe  distance  from  the  Union  army.  As  the 
Seventy-Seventh  had  no  love  for  slavery  or  slave- 
holders, they  would  generally  salute  these  task- 
masters as  they  passed  on  the  road  with  this 
appropriate  chorus : 

"  De  massa  run,  ha!  ha! 

De  darkey  stay,  ho !  ho ! 
It  must  be  now  de  kingdom's  comin', 
And  de  year  ob  jubilo." 

No  matter  in  what  situation  the  boys  might  be 
placed,  they  were  always  equal  to  the  emergency. 

At  length,  after  a  laborious  march  of  seven 
days,  the  prisoners  reached  Camp  Ford,  near 
Tyler,  Smith  County,  Texas.  This  was  a  stock- 


288  '^~\    THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

ade,  that  is,  an  enclosure  formed  by  heavy 
timbers  split  in  halves  and  set  firmly  in  the 
ground  on  end.  Originally,  it  contained  only 
three  acres,  but  had  recently  been  enlarged  to 
six  or  seven,  in  order  to  accommodate  fresh  arri- 
vals. At  this  time  it  contained  about  six  hun- 
dred prisoners.  The  new-comers  were  detained 
the  first  night  and  a  part  of  the  succeeding  day, 
outside  the  stockade.  Here  they  were  turned 
over  to  the  guard  on  duty  at  this  place,  and  their 
escort  returned  to  the  front. 

"When  the  prisoners  arrived  in  sight  of  the 
stockade,  they  were  anxious  to  get  a  view  of 
their  new  residence,  and  were  not  very  favor- 
ably impressed  by  the  surroundings.  Inside 
the  pen  there  were  a  few  log  cabins  and  "dug- 
outs," crowded  closely  together  in  one  corner, 
while  the  balance  of  the  enclosed  space  was  but 
recently  cleared  of  timber,  full  of  stumps  and 
brush  heaps.  This  was  to  be  the  home  of  these 
brave  men  until  some  indefinite  time  in  the 
future. 

The  prisoners  already  in  the  stockade  were 
anxious  to  see  the  army  of  General  Banks,  which 
the  rebels  had  reported  to  them  as  having  been 
captured.  Dressed  in  all  kinds  of  clothing,  a 
motley  crew,  they  mounted  the  roofs  of  the 
cabins  and  occupied  the  highest  points  of  ground 
in  order  to  get  a  good  view.  Perhaps  they  had 
formerly  met  with  a  similar  reception.  As  soon 


tLLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  289 

as  they  had  marched  into  the  prison-pen,  the 
prisoners  were  formed  into  parallel  lines,  to  listen 
to  an  address  by  Colonel  Allen,  the  commandant 
of  the  prison.  That  dignitary  gave  them  a 
formal  introduction  to  their  new  quarters.  He 
stated  that  each  Regiment  would  be  allowed  the 
length  of  ground  it  occupied,  and  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  in  width,  and  in  conclusion,  he  ex- 
tended a  cordial  invitation  to  them  to  feel 
perfectly  at  home,  and  make  themselves  as  com- 
fortable as  possible.  Whether  this  invitation 
was  given  in  sincerity  or  intended  as  a  joke,  was 
never  ascertained.  But  in  either  case,  the  boys 
could  see  very  little  prospect  of  comfort  with  no 
shelter,  with  no  bed  but  the  bare  ground,  and  no 
covering  but  the  starry  heavens. 

For  some  time  after  their  arrival,  a  few  guards 
were  detailed  each  day  to  take  out  small  parties 
to  the  timber  to  carry  in  poles  and  brush  to  make 
a  shelter  from  the  sun  by  day  and  the  dew  by 
night.  But  this  was  slow  and  tedious  work,  and 
only  the  most  determined  succeeded  in  the  enter- 
prise, and  for  many  months  most  of  the  men 
were  without  shelter  of  any  kind,  and  during  the 
cool  nights  they  were  compelled  to  keep  in 
motion,  or  huddle  closely  together  around  their 
scanty  fire  to  keep  warm. 

The  oflicers  were  allowed  special  privileges  to 
go  out  in  parties  under  guard,  and  they  were 
not  long  in  securing  timber  enough  to  build  log 


290  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

cabins.  It  was  a  refreshing  sight  to  see  a  line  of 
shoulder  straps  —  the  emblems  of  authority — 
marching  into  the  stockade  with  timbers  on  their 
shoulders,  and  surrounded  by  a  guard  of  butter- 
nuts. And  then  they  would  gather  around  their 
mush-pots,  and  with  pine  paddies,  stir  the  mush 
for  their  evening  meal. 

Fresh  arrivals  of  prisoners  came  in  frequently 
during  the  summer.  On  the  9th  of  July,  six 
hundred  of  those  who  had  been  longest  in  prison, 
were  sent  forward  for  exchange,  and  again  on  the 
first  of  October,  about  the  same  number.  Major 
Mann,  of  the  19th  Kentucky,  was  one  of  these. 
He  had  been  in  command  of  the  prisoners  and 
of  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  camp  up  to 
this  time.  After  his  departure,  Captain  J.  M. 
McCulloch,  of  the  77th,  was  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed him.  As  chief  executive  of  the  inside  of 
the  stockade,  he  had  limited  power  to  regulate 
the  domestic  institutions  of  the  camp,  and  to  be 
a  medium  of  communication  between  the  pris- 
oners and  the  Commandant.  For  this  purpose 
he  was  allowed,  on  parole  of  honor,  to  go  outside 
the  stockade  to  the  headquarters  of  the  com- 
mander, and  to  range  at  will  within  a  circle  of 
half  a  mile. 

Captain  McCulloch  went  to  work  with  charac- 
teristic energy  and  foresight.  He  made  sugges- 
tions to  the  commanding  officer  in  regard  to  the 
defective  sanitary  condition  of  the  camp.  Hav- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  291 

ing  obtained  permission,  he  procured  some 
implements,  and  under  his  direction  the  men 
cleaned  up  the  prison,  made  a  ball-alley,  and 
more  system  was  introduced  into  the  internal 
arrangements  of  the  camp.  As  the  winter  was 
then  approaching,  he  appealed  to  the  com- 
mander for  better  shelter  for  the  men,  stating 
that  to  pass  the  winter  in  that  condition  would 
insure  the  death  of  one-half  of  the  prisoners. 

The  commanding  officer  wrote  to  Kirby  Smith, 
the  Department  Commander,  setting  forth  the 
facts  in  the  case,  and  asking  for  facilities  for 
building  additional  quarters.  Receiving  no  reply, 
he  wrote  again,  but  still  no  answer  came.  It 
seemed  to  be  the  deliberate  purpose  of  the  rebel 
authorities  to  murder  the  prisoners  in  their  hands 
by  the  slow  but  sure  process  of  starvation  and 
exposure,  and  this  is  one  of  the  dark  spots  on  the 
bloody  history  of  the  "  Lost  Cause." 

Captain  McCulloch  then  suggested  that  the 
men  would  do  the  work  themselves  if  the  com- 
mander would  furnish  guards  for  a  sufficient 
number  of  working  parties.  This  he  consented 
to  do,  and  allowed  four  parties  of  eight  or  ten 
men  each  to  go  out  in  the  forenoon  and  after- 
noon, and  these  men  cut  and  carried  timbers  on 
their  shoulders  more  than  half  a  mile  to  build 
their  cabins.  This  laborious  work  continued  for 
about  two  months,  when  all  the  men  had  tolera- 
bly good  winter  quarters,  and  the  appearance  of 


292  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

the  inside  of  the  stockade  was  very  much  im- 
proved. 

The  mail  facilities  at  Camp  Ford  were  not 
first-class.  The  prisoners  were  not  often  per- 
mitted to  communicate  hy  letter  with  the  outside 
world.  Only  when  a  flag  of  truce  passed  between 
the  lines  could  letters  be  sent  or  received.  It 
was  six  mouths  after  their  capture  before  they 
received  any  tidings  from  the  loved  ones  at 
home.  The  letters  were  all  examined  by  the 
officials  to  see  that  they  contained  nothing  ob- 
jectionable. During  the  last  six  months  of  their 
imprisonment,  however,  the  mail  arrived  and 
departed  more  frequently,  on  an  average  about 
once  a  month.  The  arrival  of  the  mail  was  a 
notable  event  at  the  stockade.  A  man  from  an 
eminence  would  call  out  the  names,  and  the  let- 
ters would  be  passed  over  the  heads  of  the  crowd 
until  they  reached  the  parties  to  whom  they 
were  addressed.  As  Camp  Ford  was  not  a 
healthy  place  for  the  paymaster,  that  gentleman 
failed  to  make  his  half-yearly  visits  as  formerly. 

The  rations  consisted  for  the  most  part  of  corn- 
meal,  beef  and  salt.  The  ration  for  one  man 
was  a  pint  of  corn-meal  and  from  half  a  pound 
to  a  pound  of  beef,  with  nearly  enough  salt  to 
season  it.  This  was  rather  slim  living,  but  slim 
as  it  was,  they  were  sometimes  put  on  "  short 
rations.""  Is  it  any  wonder  that  men  starved  to 
death  in  the  prison-pens  of  the  South?  When 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  293 

the  supply  of  corn-meal  failed,  shelled  corn  was 
substituted.  The  rations  were  issued  in  bulk. 
The  beef"  was  brought  into  the  camp  in  quarters 
and  thrown  on  the  ground  until  Yankee  ingenu- 
ity invented  a  platform  made  of  puncheons.  An 
officer  was  detailed  from  the  prisoners  to  super- 
intend the  distribution  of  the  rations.  This 
difficult  position  was  tilled  by  Captain  Joe  H. 
Stevison,  of  Company  "  B,"  for  the  last  six 
months  of  their  imprisonment.  But  the  rations 
were  wholly  insufficient,  and  day  after  day  the 
pinchings  of  hunger  were  keenly  felt. 

Human  nature  presented  many  different 
phases  among  the  prisoners.  Those  who  had  a 
fancy  for  such  things  would  indulge  in  gambling 
and  cheating  and  stealing  and  fighting.  These 
were  almost  daily  occurrences.  Others,  who 
had  a  taste  for  business,  would  endeavor  to  turn 
an  honest  penny  in  the  way  of  trade.  Some 
would  manufacture  fancy  combs  and  trinkets 
from  the  horns  of  the  cattle  which  were  slaugh- 
tered. One  firm  of  four  persons  made  and  sold 
nearly  six  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  these  arti- 
cles. The  barber,  the  tailor  and  the  shoemaker 
plied  their  avocations.  The  baker  sold  his  bis- 
cuits at  twenty-five  cents  each  and  his  sweet- 
potato  pies  for  a  dollar  apiece!  War  prices! 
The  banker  did  a  loan  and  exchange  business. 
The  editor  published  the  "  Camp  Ford  News " 
occasionally,  which  afforded  a  good  deal  of 


294  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

amusement.  Then  there  was  a  band  of  minstrels 
with  violins  and  banjos  of  their  own  construc- 
tion, and  music  and  dancing  was  the  order  of 
the  night. 

The  men  were  not  without  religious  instruc- 
tion. The  social  prayer  meeting  was  held  almost 
every  evening  when  the  weather  was  favorable. 
Captured  Chaplains  would  preach  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  these  meetings  were  well  attended. 
But  as  these  officers  were  considered  non-com- 
batants, they  were  sent  forward  to  our  lines  at 
the  tirst  opportunity.  There  was  one  exception  to 
this  rule,  the  Rev.  H.  B.  Lamb.  He  was  Chap- 
lain of  a  colored  regiment,  and  for  that  reason 
was  held .  a  prisoner  and  treated  with  great 
indignity. 

Through  the  influence  of  Captain  McCulloch, 
the  Chaplain  of  the  guard  was  permitted  to 
preach  to  the  prisoners  on  two  different  occa- 
sions. He  was  reverently  listened  to  by  an 
audience  of  a  thousand  men.  He  was  much 
surprised  at  this,  believing  that  the  prisoners 
were  no  better  than  a  horde  of  barbarians.  But 
the  Captain  remarked  to  him  that  the  men  were 
at  least  partially  civilized. 

With  but  few  exceptions,  the  farmers  in  the 
vicinity  were  very  bitter  against  the  prisoners. 
And  yet,  if  they  could  make  money  out  of  them, 
well  and  good.  They  would  overcome  their 
conscientious  scruples  for  the  time  being.  One 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  295 

of  those  fellows  came  to  the  gate  on  one  occasion 
with  a  load  of  "  truck  "  and  demanded  permis- 
sion to  go  inside  and  sell  to  the  prisoners.  After 
some  discussion  with  the  officers,  he  was  allowed 
to  enter.  He  was  offered  a  guard  for  protection, 
but  this  he  declined,  as  he  "  was  not  afraid  of  (he 
Yankees."  He  took  his  position  on  Main  street 
and  was  soon  surrounded  by  a  large  crowd.  But 
his  prices  did  not  suit  his  customers,  and  but  few 
sales  were  made.  He  asked  forty  dollars  for  a 
brace  of  chickens,  from  ten  to  twenty  dollars  for 
a  melon,  and  other  things  in  proportion.  Con- 
federate money  was  worth  twenty  cents  on  the 
dollar  as  compared  with  greenbacks.  The  boys 
had  not  money  enough  to  spare  to  pay  these 
prices.  It  was  not  long,  however,  until  they 
became  quite  familiar  with  the  products  of  his 
farm.  This  conduct  he  resented  by  flourishing 
a  large  hickory  cane. 

While  this  was  transpiring,  some  of  the  boys 
took  the  harness  off  the  horses,  while  others 
took  the  hind  wheels  off  the  axle,  and  the 
farmer  tumbled  into  a  crowd  of  hungry,  demor- 
alized and  unscrupulous  prisoners.  He  showed 
tight,  but  it  was  no  use.  He  was  soon  relieved 
of  his  merchandise,  revolver,  pocket-book  and 
all  his  loose  valuables.  He  finally  emerged  from 
the  crowd  with  his  coat  tail  partly  torn  off,  and 
the  rest  of  his  garments  in  a  sadly  demoralized 
condition. 


296  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

A  great  many  plans  were  devised,  and  some 
of  them  successfully  carried  out,  for  making 
their  escape  from  the  stockade.  The  hospital 
was  outside  and  when  the  sick  were  taken  out 
they  had  to  procure  passes  from  the  commander. 
A  great  many  passed  out  on  forged  passes,  and 
thus  gained  their  freedom.  Sometimes  bribery 
was  resorted  to,  and  the  guard,  for  a  considera- 
tion, would  allow  them  to  pass  out.  Digging 
out  was  another  method  employed,  but  this  plan 
met  with  indifferent  success.  A  far  more  suc- 
cessful plan  than  any  of  these  was  adopted. 
There  was  a  dump-cart  drawn  by  an  old 
horse  in  charge  of  a  young  soldier.  This 
was  employed  in  carting  out  the  dirt  and 
rubbish  from  the  camp.  The  driver  of  this  rig 
was  easily  prevailed  upon  to  remain  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  gate  and  trade  jack-knives,  or 
anything  else,  with  the  "  Yanks,"  while  some  of 
the  prisoners  would  take  the  cart  inside  and  load 
it.  One  or  two  of  the  boys  would  then  climb  in 
and  lie  down  in  the  bottom  of  the  cart,  and  the 
others  would  cover  them  over  with  rubbish. 
Thus  loaded,  the  cart  was  returned  to  the  driver, 
who,  pretending  to  be  ignorant  of  the  whole 
transaction,  went  out  and  dumped  the  load  over 
the  brow  of  a  hill  not  far  distant.  The  boys 
would  then  conceal  themselves  until  dark,  when 
they  would  spread  their  sails  for  more  congenial 
climes. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  297 

• 

But  it  was  one  thing  to  get  outside  the  stock- 
ade, and  quite  another  to  reach  the  Union  lines, 
three  hundred  miles  distant.  Very  few  suc- 
ceeded in  the  undertaking.  Every  white  man  in 
that  country,  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
sixty,  was  a  soldier.  And  besides  this,  blood- 
hounds were  put  on  the  trail  of  the  fugitives. 
They  were  soon  captured  and  brought  back,  and 
then  severe  punishments  were  inflicted.  Some 
were  tied  up  by  the  thumbs,  standing  on  a  barrel, 
bare-headed,  in  the  hot,  broiling  sun,  for  eight 
hours  a  day.  Others  were  compelled  to  stand  on 
a  stump,  cut  with  a  right  and  left  slope,  for  two 
hours  at  a  time,  while  a  guard  stood  near  by 
with  instructions  to  shoot  the  prisoner  if  he 
moved  a  foot.  And  the  guard  was  only  too 
willing  to  comply  with  these  prders,  as  he  would 
be  rewarded  by  a  furlough  for  so  doing. 

Sometimes  the  recaptured  prisoners  were 
treated  to  a  roping-in  process.  One  party  in 
crossing  the  Sabine  River,  had  ropes  tied  around 
their  necks,  while  the  other  end  was  tied  to  the 
saddle  of  their  escort.  In  this  way  they  were 
compelled  to  cross  the  river  as  best  they  could, 
behind  the  swimming  horses.  This  roping  was 
a  favorite  resort  of  one  Captain  Montgomery, 
who  deserves  an  immortality  of  infamy.  He 
commanded  an  escort  between  Shreveport  and 
the  stockade.  When  his  prisoners  would  show 

signs  of  giving  out  on  the  march,  he  would  rope 
19 


298  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

them  to  the  saddles  of  their  escort,  and  in  this 
way  they  were  dragged  along,  until  nature  was 
completely  exhausted,  and  the  prisoners  fell  by 
the  '  way.  From  such  treatment  as  this  large 
numbers  were  consigned  to  a  premature  grave. 

During  the  winter  a  Regiment  of  Texas 
Cavalry  had  been  on  guard  at  Camp  Ford,  but 
on  the  14th.  of  March,  they  were  relieved  by  a 
detachment  of  the  Reserve  Corps,  who,  either  by 
way  of  derision  or  of  compliment,  were  termed 
'•'•lop -ears."  They  were  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Col.  Jamison,  and  while  they  were  on  duty  the 
prisoners  received  better  treatment  than  at  any 
other  time  during  their  imprisonment. 

Scurvy  had  been  making  fearful  ravages  among 
the  men,  and  it  became  worse  as  the  spring 
advanced.  The  hospital  was  full  to  overflowing, 
and  had  to  be  enlarged.  There  were  no  sanitary 
supplies,  and  very  little  medicine.  Under  this 
state  of  things,  Col.  Jamison  allowed  large 
parties  to  go  out  each  day,  on  parole  of  honor, 
to  gather  greens  and  secure  vegetables.  Permis- 
sion was  also  given  to  a  party  from  the  77th,  one 
from  the  130th  Illinois,  and  one  from  the  120th 
Ohio,  to  fence  and  cultivate  a  garden  in  a  field 
near  the  stockade.  These  parties  carried .  rails 
and  fenced  about  six  acres  of  ground.  The  Com- 
mandant furnished  the  seed.  But  they  had  no 
team  to  plow  the  ground.  As  a  substitute,  about 
a  dozen  Yankees  were  hitched  to  the  plow,  and 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  299 

thus  prepared  the  ground,  independent  of  horses 
or  mules.  Gardening  was  good  exercise  and 
beneficial  to  the  men.  And  besides  that,  they 
had  the  pleasure  of  eating  "garden  sass  "  of  their 
own  raising  before  they  left  the  camp,  and  their 
health  was  very  much  improved. 

After  waiting  and  watching  anxiously  for 
weeks  in  hopes  of  exchange,  the  men  became 
restless,  and  thought  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to 
exchange  themselves.  The  guards  on  duty  at 
that  time  were  not  very  zealous  in  the  perform- 
ance of  their  duties,  and  it  was  no  trouble  to 
make  arrangements  with  them  for  the  necessary 
"  passes."  And  within  a  week  one  hundred  or 
more  had  left  very  abruptly  between  two  days. 
This  gave  great  annoyance  to  the  Commandant, 
as  he  knew  that  his  own  guards  were  active 
agents  in  the  new  system  of  exchange.  After 
consultation  with  Col.  Bradfute,  the  Post  Com- 
mandant, the  following  order  was  issued  and 
posted  in  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  stockade : 

OFFICE  POST  COMMANDANT,         ) 
TYLER  TEXAS,  April  30,  1865.  j 

Special  Orders.  No. 

I.  Hereafter  no  Federal  prisoners  at  Camp 
Ford,  neither  officer  nor  soldier,  will  be  paroled 
or  allowed  to  leave  the  stockade  for  any  purpose 
whatever,  except  by  authority  from  this  office. 
Wood  parties  will  be  sent  out  under  strong 
guard. 


300  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

II.  In  the   future,  the  Federal    prisoners   at 
Camp  Ford,  will  be  required   to  go  into  their 
houses  or  shanties,  at  sunset  of  each   day,  and 
remain   within    them    until    daylight    the    next 
morning. 

III.  No  lights  will  be  allowed  in  the  houses 
or  shanties  of  the  prisoners  at  Camp  Ford,  after 
eight  o'clock  of  each  night,  and  the  patrol  will 
tire  at  any  prisoner  violating  the  foregoing  orders. 

(Signed.)  W.  P.  BRADFUTE, 

Colonel  Commanding  Post. 

COL.  J.  C.  JAMISON,  Com'd'g  Camp  Ford. 
[Official.] 

JOHN  C.  MORRIS,  Lieut,  and  Adft  General. 

Shortly  after  this  order  was  issued,  one  of  the 
prisoners  was  shot  for  an  alleged  violation  of  it. 
The  circumstances  surrounding  the  case  may  be 
gathered  from  the  following  letter : 

CAMP  FORD  PRISON,     { 
May  6,  1865.  j 

COL.  JAMISON. 

Sir:  —  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  of  the 
circumstances  of  the  tragedy  perpetrated  in  the 
stockade  last  night,  by  the  patrol  guard,  as  re- 
lated by  the  victim  and  his  mess-mates.  Two 
guards  .passed  by  the  door  of  his  shanty,  from 
whom  he  asked  permission  to  step  outside  to 
urinate.  Their  answer  he  understood  to  be  per- 
mission to  do  so,  and  stepped  out  a  few  steps 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  301 

from  the  door,  when  a  third  came  along  and 
ordered  him  inside.  This  order  he  complied 
with,  and  while  in  the  act  of  stepping  over 
the  door-sill,  was  shot  in  the  back.  Now,  that  a 
man  be  killed  under  such  circumstances,  is,  in 
my  opinion,  downright  murder.  Fortunately, 
the  man  was  not  killed,  but  this  does  not  detract 
anything  from  the  act.  Being  prisoners,  we 
must  of  course,  endure  such  things  if  they  are 
inflicted,  but  being  in  the  position  I  am,  I  must 
clear  my  skirts  by  entering  my  solemn  protest 
against  such  violence. 

Respectfully, 

J.    M.    McCULLOCH, 
Capt.  77th  III.  Vol.  -Inf.  U.  S.  A. 

But  the  end  was  now  drawing  near.  About 
this  time  rumors  reached  the  prisoners  of  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln  —  of  the  sur- 
render of  Lee's  army  and  the  general  collapse 
of  the  "  Confederacy."  The  assurance  was  given 
that  within  a  week  they  would  all  be  liberated. 
Then  ensued  several  days  of  intense  anxiety  and 
suspense.  The  papers  containing  the  news  of 
these  important  events  were  kept  from  them,  so 
that  they  could  obtain  no  reliable  information 
from  the  outside,  and  the  most  extravagant 
rumors  were  afloat.  In  the  mean  time,  about 
fifty  of  the  prisoners  who  had  recently  escaped 
were  captured  and  returned  to  the  stockade, 


302  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

having  been  tracked  and  "  treed  "  by  the  blood- 
hounds. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  Captain  Birchett,  the 
paroling  officer,  came  to  the  camp  with  a  large 
mail  and  late  Northern  papers,  confirming  all 
the  wild  rumors  they  had  heard.  He  informed 
them  that  they  were  to  proceed  at  once  to  the 
mouth  of  Red  River.  Then  a  scene  of  joyous 
excitement  was  witnessed  at  Camp  Ford.  The 
war  was  at  an  end,  their  sufferings  and  privations 
were  about  to  terminate.  On  the  night  of  the 
14th  most  of  the  men  in  the  Reserve  Corps  dis- 
charged .themselves  and  started  for  home,  and 
the  next  day  the  rest  of  them  left  leaving  only 
a  few  men  of  the  15th  Texas  Cavalry  to  guard 
the  prisoners.  In  fact  they  were  not  guarded  at 
all.  Liquor  was  sold  freely  to  the  men  and  they 
went  where  they  pleased.  It  was  feared  by  the 
officers  that  acts  of  violence  would  be  commit- 
ted, but  to  the  credit  of  the  men  it  must  be  said, 
nothing  of  the  kind  occurred. 

In  this  unsettled  state  of  affairs,  it  looked  as 
if  the  prisoners  would  have  to  find  their  way 
out  of  "  Dixie's  Land  "  as  best  they  could.  But 
at  length  a  train  of  nine  wagons  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance, and  the  remnant  of  the  15th  Texas 
was  ordered  to  escort  them  to  Marshall,  and 
there  report  to  General  Churchill.  On  the  17th 
of  May  they  started.  Seven  of  the  wagons 
were  used  for  carrying  the  sick;  the  other  two 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  303 

were  sent  to  Tyler  for  rations,  to  be  issued  on 
the  way. 

Although  out  of  prison  and  in  a  measure  free 
men,  their  troubles  were  not  ended.  They 
trudged  along  wearily  for  two  or  three  days  but 
the  promised  rations  did  not  come.  The  men 
threatened  to  break  ranks  and  make  the  best  of 
their  way  to  Shreveport  on  their  own  account; 
but  this  would  have  been  dangerous  in  the  un- 
settled state  of  the  country  at  that  time.  The 
officers  prevailed  upon  the  men  to  remain 
together  awhile  longer,  and  that  night  Lieut. 
Naylor,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Texans, 
sent  a  courier  to  Marshall  to  inform  the  authori- 
ties there  of  the  situation.  The  next  morning 
they  started  at  three  o'clock,  and  marched  twen- 
ty-five miles  in  a  very  orderly  manner.  In  the 
evening  they  camped  by  a  pleasant  stream 
within  six  miles  of  Marshall.  At  this  point  the 
courier,  true  to  his  trust,  returned  with  the 
much-needed  rations.  Here  they  killed  the  last 
of  the  beeves,  and  the  men  had  a  very  good 
supper,  considering  the  situation. 

The  next  morning  they  reached  Marshall,  and 
the  Texaus  were  relieved  by  a  detachment  of  an 
Arkansas  regiment  of  infantry  in  command 
of  Major  Stuart.  This  officer  did  all  he  could 
for  the  comfort  of  the  men.  He  procured  ra- 
tions for  them  and  sent  the  sick  by  railroad  to 
Greenwood,  within  fourteen  miles  of  Shreveport. 


304  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

He  held  the  wagon-train  to  carry  the  sick  from 
the  terminus  of  the  railroad.  On  the  second 
night  out  from  Marshall,  however,  the  wagon- 
train  left  them,  fearing  confiscation  by  the  rebel 
soldiers,  who  were  appropriating  such  property 
to  their  own  use.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
sick  were  left  behind  for  the  time  being.  Soon 
after  reaching  Shreveport  wagons  were  sent  back 
for  the  sick,  and  they  were  brought  forward  in 
time  to  embark  on  the  boat  with  the  rest  of  the 
men. 

It  was  a  difficult  matter  to  find  boats  for  trans- 
portation, unless  they  could  be  assured  of  their 
pay.  This  assurance  was  given  in  the  shape  of 
cotton  belonging  to  the  defunct  Confederacy. 
About  950  men,  including  those  belonging  to 
the  77th,  took  passage  on  the  "  General  Quit- 
man,"  a  very  large  steamer,  too  large,  in  fact, 
for  the  crooks  and  turns  of  Red  River.  They 
broke  their  wheels  and  met  with  other  mishaps 
on  the  way,  until  finally,  on  the  27th  they 
caught  sight  of  the  Union  gunboats  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  They  greeted  the  Father 
of  Waters  with  as  much  enthusiasm  as  De  Soto 
had  done  centuries  before. 

The  greatest  number  of  prisoners  at  Camp 
Ford  at  one  time  was  about  4,700.  This  num- 
ber was  reduced  by  exchanges  from  time  to  time, 
until  only  1,700  remained,  and  these  constituted 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  £05 

the  "  rear  guard  "  of  Federal  prisoners  held  by 
the  Confederate  authorities.  « 

Before  leaving  their  prison-pen,  a  volunteer 
detail  of  twenty  men  in  charge  of  Lieutenants 
II.  J.  Wyman  and  C.  F.  McCulloch,  built  a  sub- 
stantial post  and  rail  fence  around  the  grave- 
yard containing  the  remains  of  their  comrades. 
There  was  about  an  acre  of  ground  in  the 
enclosure  and  it  contained  two  hundred  and 
eighty-two  graves. 

From  the  mouth  of  Red  River  the  prisoners 
proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  where  they  were 
quartered  in  cotton  presses,  awaiting  orders 
from  the  authorities.  Clothing  was  issued  to 
them,  but  they  received  no  pay.  There  was  not 
much  sympathy  in  this,  for  the  men  who  had 
fought  so  gallantly  at  Mansfield  and  suffered  so 
much  at  Camp  Ford. 

On  the  5th  of  June  an  order  came  from  Gen- 
eral Canby  for  the  officers  and  men  of  certain 
Regiments  —  paroled  prisoners  —  to  proceed  to 
Benton  Barracks,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  charge  of 
the  senior  officer  of  the  detachments.  There 
were  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two  men  and 
twenty-two  officers,  and  they  belonged  to  the 
following  Regiments:  77th  and  130th  Illinois, 
120th  Ohio,  162d,  165th  and  173d  New  York, 
23d  Wisconsin,  18th,  28th,  32d,  33d,  and  36th 
Iowa.  They  arrived  at  St.  Louis  on  the  12th  of 
June,  where  they  received  pay  as  commutation 


306  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

for  rations  while  prisoners.  The  members  of 
the  77th  were  ordered  to  Springfield;  and  on  the 
17th  of  June  were  mustered  out  of  the  service, 
and  received  pay  in  full  from  the  date  of  the 
last  payment  up  to  the  time  of  their  discharge. 
Thus  after  an  imprisonment  of  thirteen 
months  and  nineteen  days  they  were  again  free 
men,  living  under  the  protecting  folds  of  the 
starry  flag.  From  Springfield  they  went  to  their 
homes,  where  they  arrived  on  the  8th  of  July, 
about  two  weeks  in  advance  of  the  balance  pf 
the  Regiment. 


CHAPTER  THE  SIXTEENTH. 


THE    RETREAT. 


MIDNIGHT,  after  the  close  of  the  bat- 
tle, the  retreat  began.  How  different 
from  the  advance !  The  13th  Army 
Corps  was  literally  cut  to  pieces.  The  4th  Divi- 
sion was  a  mere  shadow  of  its  former  self.  The 
77th,  and  some  other  Regiments,  were  almost 
annihilated.  With  feeliuga  of  sadness,  mingled 
with  indignation,  the  shattered  remains  of  that 
army,  turned  their  faces  from  the  scene  of  dis- 
aster, and  began  their  toilsome  march  in  the 
direction  of  the  Mississippi.  All  available  means 
were  brought  into  requisition  for  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  wounded.  They  were  mounted  on 
horses  and  mules,  on  artillery  caissons,  on  carts 
and  wagons  —  in  fact  on  any  conveyance  which 
could  be  pressed  into  the  service.  Major  Bur- 
dett  was  in  command  of  the  Regiment,  as  he  had 
taken  that  position  on  the  death  of  Col.  Webb. 
The  boys  lost  their  knapsacks  and  contents,  for 
they  had  been  unslung  and  left  behind  when 
they  moved  to  the  front. 


308  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

At  8  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the 
troops  were  at  Pleasant  Hill,  about  twenty  miles 
from  the  battle  field.  Here  the  boys  met  their 
old  Division  Commander,  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith.  As 
a  handfull  of  the  77th  passed  him,  he  asked, 
"What  Regiment  is  this?"  Some  one  replied, 
"The  77th~  Illinois?"  "The  77th  Illinois?" 
exclaimed  the  old  veteran.  "  I  know  the  77th. 
Brave  boys,  too  bad,  too  bad.  You  would  have 
gone  anywhere  if  I  had  said  so." 

It  was  evident  at  this  point  that  another  battle 
was  impending.  Gen.  Banks,  well  knowing  his 
own  incompetency,  or  wishing  to  shift  the  re- 
sponsibility of  further  operations,  allowed  Gen. 
Smith  to  take  full  command  of  the  troops.  The 
Cavalry  had  been  terribly  cut  up  on  the  preced- 
ing day  while  protecting  the  flanks  of  the  army. 
The  horses  were  maimed  and  bleeding,  but  they 
were  now  sent  to  the  front  to  hold  in  check  the 
advancing  columns  of  an  enemy  flushed  with 
victory  and  Louisiana  rum.  Gen.  Smith  arranged 
his  forces  in  three  lines,  intending  to  give  the 
rebels  a  warm  reception.  The  19th  Army  Corps 
formed  the  first  line  in  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
with  an  open  field  to  the  rear.  Across  the 
middle  of  this  field  was  a  second  line  of  troops 
supporting  two  guns.  The  77th  occupied  a  posi- 
tion just  in  rear  of  these  guns  and  near  the  bank 
of  a  small  stream,  which  meandered  diagonally 
across  the  field.  The  third  line  was  in  the  timber 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  309 

south  of  the  Held,  supporting  all  the  guns  which 
were  masked  at  this  point  and  double  shotted. 

With  the  forces  thus  disposed  and  feeling  the 
utmost  confidence  in  their  new  commander,  the 
men  calmly  awaited  the  result.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  13th  Army  Corps,  on  account  of  its 
enfeebled  condition,  was  sent  to  guard  the  wagon- 
train,  having  Grand  Ecore  on  Red  River,  as  the 
objective  point. 

About  noon  the  sound  of  musketry  was  heard 
in  front.  Our  Cavalry  contested  the  ground  man- 
fully, but  fell  back  as  the  enemy  advanced.  It 
was  not  long  until  the  battle  raged  furiously. 
The  earth  trembled  with  the  constant  discharges 
of  artillery  and  musketry.  The  Cavalry  was 
driven  back  on  the  19th  Corps,  which,  in  accord- 
ance with  preconcerted  arrangements,  fell  back 
on  the  second  line.  Full  of  excitement  and 
confident  of  success,  the  enemy  emerged  from 
the  timber,  and  entered  the  open  field,  shout- 
ing and  waving  the  captured  flags  of  the  day 
before.  They  came  on  in  solid  masses,  as  if 
determined  to  crush  our  columns  by  mere  force 
of  numbers.  The  second  line  then  gave  way  in 
the  centre,  according  to  previous  instructions, 
and  fell  upon  their  flanks,  while  the  masked 
batteries  in  the  front,  sent  such  discharges 
of  grape  and  cannister  into  their  ranks,  that  they 
quailed  before  them.  Utterly  routed  and  demor- 
alized they  fled  from  the  field,  leaving  their 


310  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

wounded  and  artillery  in  our  hands.  It  was  a 
"Pleasant  Hill"  for  General  Smith  and  his 
troops,  but  a  very  unpleasant  one  for  the  victors 
of  the  previous  day. 

That  night  the  army  slept  on  the  field  of  bat- 
tle, and  followed  the  line  of  retreat  the  next 
morning.  The  13th  Corps  guarding  the  fugitive 
wagon-train,  marched  nearly  all  night,  in  the 
direction  of  Grand  Ecore,  thirty-five  miles  from 
Pleasant  Hill,  where  they  arrived  on  the  10th. 
Here  they  came  under  the  friendly  protection  of 
the  gunboats.  Other  troops  arrived  the  next 
day.  Fortifications  were  hastily  constructed  to 
prepare  against  another  attack,  for  the  enemy, 
although  defeated,  was  still  able  to  pursue.  On 
the  12th  of  April  there  was  heavy  cannonading 
up  the  river.  General  Gordon,  with  4,500  men, 
had  gone  in  that  direction,  and  the  firing  was 
occasioned  by  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
rebels,  to  capture  his  transports. 

The  troops  remained  at  this  point  until  the 
22d.  At  2  o'clock  A.  M.  of  that  day,  the  forward, 
or  rather  the  backward,  movement,  was  resumed. 
The  19th  Corps  was  in  front,  the  13th  in  the 
centre,  while  the  16th  and  17th  brought  up  the 
rear.  When  they  arrived  at  Kane  River,  they 
found  the  enemy  entrenched  on  a  bluff  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river,  prepared  to  dispute  the 
passage  of  the  retreating  column.  Preparations 
were  at  once  made  for  dislodging  him  from  his 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  311 

position,  and  for  an  hour  or  more,  there  was  a 
lively  shelling  on  the  part  of  our  batteries. 
There  had  formerly  been  a  bridge  at  this  place, 
but  the  rebels  had  destroyed  it,  and  now  it  was 
necessary  to  build  a  pontoon  for  the  troops  to 
cross.  This  was  an  important  point,  as  it  was 
the  nearest  and  best  place  at  which  the  train 
could  cross. 

While  the  shelling  was  in  progress,  the  13th 
Corps  and  a  part  of  the  19th  were  ordered 
up  the  river  about  two  miles,  where  they  crossed 
by  wading  waist  deep.  After  crossing,  General 
Weitzel's  Division  of  the  19th  Corps,  took  the 
advance.  After  marching  through  the  timber  a 
mile  or  two  they  encountered  the  enemy's  picket. 
A  sharp  engagement  immediately  ensued,  during 
which  WeitzePs  column  charged  across  an  open 
field  in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire.  Several  of  our 
men  fell,  but  the  charge  was  successful.  While 
this  was  going  on,  the  rebels  came  down  like  an 
avalanche  on  General  Smith;  but  he  was  not 
caught  napping.  With  his  usual  intrepidity  he 
hurled  his  column  against  the  enemy,  and  the 
result  was  not  long  in  doubt.  Weitzel  in  front 
and  Smith  in  the  rear,  both  hard  fighters  and 
each  doing  his  appropriate  work,  the  rebels 
were  defeated  and  the  victory  of  Kane  River 
was  decisive  and  complete.  The  army  then  pur- 
sued the  toilsome  march,  harrassed  more  or  less 


312  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

every  day  until  the  25th,  when  they  reached 
their  old  camp  at  Alexandria. 

While  here,  General  John  A.  McClernand 
came  up  the  river.  The  13th  Army  Corps, 
which  he  had  so  often  led  to  victory,  but  which 
was  now  a  mere  wreck,  was  formed  in  line  to 
welcome  and  salute  him.  The  hoys  were  glad 
to  see  him  again,  and  only  wished  that  they 
could  once  more  be  transferred  to  his  command. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  Division  was 
inspected,  after  which  they  stacked  arms  and 
received  forty  rounds  of  ammunition.  This 
looked  like  business  again.  In  the  afternoon 
the  troops  left  their  entrenchments  and  moved 
to  the  front.  Fighting  was  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance, the  enemy  having  assailed  our  pickets. 
The  line  advanced  about  a  mile,  when,  without 
bringing  on  a  general  engagement,  it  gradually 
retired  and  fell  back  into  the  trenches.  General 
McClernand  was  in  command  at  that  time,  and 
as  he  and  General  A.  J.  Smith  passed  along  the 
line  of  the  13th  Corps,  they  were  loudly  cheered. 

The  army  remained  at  Alexandria  until  near 
the  middle  of  May.  The  detention  was  caused 
by  the  fact  that  the  river  had  fallen  so  much 
since  the  boats  passed  above  the  rapids  that  they 
could  not  return.  It  was  feared  at  one  time 
they  would  have  to  be  blown  up  and  abandoned; 
but  Colonel  Baily,  of  Wisconsin,  came  to  the 
rescue.  By  constructing  a  dam  across  the  river, 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  313 

and  confining  the  water  within  a  narrow  chan- 
nel, he  succeeded  in  extricating  the  gunboats 
and  transports,  and  bringing  them  safely  over 
the  rapids. 

Two  or  three  days  after  leaving  Alexandria 
they  reached  the  village  of  Marksville.  At  this 
place  an  artillery  duel  was  engaged  in  by  the 
batteries  of  the  contending  forces.  It  was  an 
almost  constant  boom  of  artillery  until  noon, 
when  the  firing  ceased.  After  passing  through 
the  town  our  column  turned  to  the  south,  pass- 
ing over  a  beautiful  prairie.  Skirting  this 
prairie  there  was  a  piece  of  timber  in  which 
the  rebels  had  planted  their  guns.  As  soon  as 
the  column  came  upon  the  prairie  the  rebel  guns 
opened  fire,  killing  two  of  our  horses.  Our  bat- 
teries soon  wheeled  into  line,  firing  and  then 
limbering  and  circling  over  the  prairie,  the 
rebels  making  the  same  rapid  movement.  It 
was  a  beautiful  sight,  but  the  damage  was  not 
great  on  either  side. 

As  the  army  approached  the  Atchafalaya 
River,  the  enemy  seemed  disposed  to  dispute 
the  passage  of  that  stream.  On  the  18th  of 
May  they  began  to  close  in  on  our  retreating 
forces.  This  brought  on  an  engagement,  in 
which  the  batteries  and  General  Smith's  infantry 
did  most  of  the  fighting.  Our  loss  was  consid- 
erable. About  two  hundred  prisoners  fell  into 
our  hands.  On  the  19th  the  4th  Division  moved 
20 


314  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

down  to  the  boats  on  the  Atchafalaya,  then 
down  the  river  two  miles,  and  returned  to  the 
boats  in  the  evening.  'During  the  day  a  bridge 
was  constructed  across  the  bows  of  the  boats, 
and  the  19th  Corps  crossed  the  river.  The  next 
morning  the  wagon-train  went  over,  and  pushed 
ahead  in  charge  of  the  19th  Corps.  In  the 
afternoon  the  other  troops  crossed,  the  bridge 
was  taken  up  and  the  boats  started  for  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  the  troops  were 
gladdened  by  seeing  the  great  river  once  more 
—  the  river  near  which  most  of  their  army  life 
had  been  spent.  From  the  mouth  of  Red  River 
they  marched  down  the  Mississippi,  in  the  di- 
rection of  Morgauza.  After  marching  about 
four  miles,  the  First  Brigade,  consisting  of  the 
77th  Illinois,  19th  Kentucky,  23d  Wisconsin  and 
83d  Ohio,  together  with  the  96th  Ohio  of  the 
Second  Brigade,  and  five  hundred  Cavalry,  were 
ordered  back  to  the  mouth  of  Red  River.  In 
a  day  or  two  they  started  down  the  river  again, 
and  after  marching  eighteen  miles  went  into 
camp  at  Morganza. 

Thus,  after  these  long  and  weary  marches,  our 
troops  were  again  in  a  place  of  comparative 
safety.  And  what  an  experience  they  had 
passed  through !  From  the  opening  of  the 
battle  of  Mansfield  on  the  8th  of  April,  until 
now,  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  boom  of 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  315 

artillery  had  been  ringing  in  their  ears  almost 
constantly.  They  had  been  harrassed  in  front, 
rear  and  flank  by  a  tireless  foe.  This  was  a  new 
and  strange  experience  for  our  boys.  Hereto- 
fore, under  better  management,  they  had  always 
been  the  aggressors  and  always  victorious;  but 
now,  they  were  compelled  to  act  on  the  defen- 
sive, and  protect  themselves  in  their  retreat  as 
best  they  could.  Incompetency,  thy  name  is 
General  Banks ! 

On  the  evening  of  May  24th  the  77th  went  on 
board  the  steamer  "  Col.  Cowles,"  belonging  to 
the  Quartermaster's  Department,  and  the  next 
day  they  left  Morganza  and  started  for  Baton 
Rouge,  once  the  capital  of  Louisiana,  at  which 
place  they  landed  on  the  morning  of  the  26th. 
Their  camp  was  pitched  on  a  grassy  plat  of 
ground  in  the  eastern  limits  of  the  city.  At  this 
place  the  days  came  and  went  with  more  monot- 
ony and  less  excitement  than  the  Red-River 
campaign  had  aiforded.  As  the  boys  were  hun- 
gry for  news,  much  of  the  time  was  spent  in 
reading.  The  paymaster  came  and  cheered 
them  with  two  months'  pay.  Frequent  mails 
came  to  gladden  their  hearts.  They  went  fish- 
ing and  bathing  in  the  Father  of  Waters.  Heavy 
rains  visited  them  and  the  loud  clap  of  thunder 
was  substituted  for  the  roar  of  artillery.  Tem- 
perance and  religious  meetings  were  frequently 
held  by  the  Chaplains  of  the  different  regiments, 


316  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Some  of  the   boys  received   furloughs   to    visit 
their  homes  in  Illinois. 

One  of  the  sad  results  of  the  late  campaign  is 
embraced  in  the  following  "  Order "  from  the 
War  Department : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 
WASHINGTON,  June  11,  1864. 

General  Orders,  No.  210. 

By  direction  of  the  President,  the  13th  Army 
Corps  is  temporarily  discontinued.  The  General 
Commanding  Division  of  West  Mississippi  will 
assign  the  troops  of  this  Corps. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

And  so  the  "Old  Thirteenth"  ceased  to  exist, 
for  the  time  being,  at  least.  It  was  a  sad  day  for 
the  members  of  that  organization  when  this 
intelligence  was  received.  But  their  past  his- 
tory could  not  be  obliterated  by  a  "  General 
Order."  When  they  remembered  the  palmy 
days  of  the  13th  Army  Corps  —  when  McCler- 
nand  was  chief,  and  Smith,  Carr,  Osterhaus  and 
Hovey  were  his  able  Lieutenants  —  when  Lan- 
dram  and  Burbridge  and  others  well  known 
were  his  Brigade  Commanders,  they  felt  like 
exclaiming :  "  How  are  the  mighty  fallen  and 
the  weapons  of  war  perished." 

On   the  17th  of  June,  before   the   foregoing 


ILLINOIS  VoLUNTEEfcs.  317 


order  of  discontinuance  was  received,  the  77th 
was  transferred  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Colonel 
Grier  Commanding.  But  this  arrangement  did 
not  continue  long,  for  in  a  few  days  the  Regi- 
ment was  again  transferred,  this  time  to  the 
Third  Brigade,  Third  Division,  19th  Army 
Corps,  and  the  boys  inquired  'k  What  next?" 

The  77th  remained  at  Baton  Rouge  until  the 
20th  of  July,  when  they  embarked  on  the  ocean 
steamer  "  Tamaulipas  "  and  were  soon  on  the 
way  to  their  old  base  of  operations  at  New 
Orleans.  Other  troops  were  concentrating  at 
this  point,  having  been  relieved  along  the  river 
by  the  "  hundred-dazers."  It  was  very  evident 
that  another  "objective  point"  had  been  se- 
lected, and  the  boys  expected  soon  to  get  an  in- 
vitation to  the  picnic. 

On  the  24th,  Chaplain  McCulloch,  who  had 
been  captured  at  Mansfield,  returned  to  the 
Regiment  from  Camp  Ford.  He  looked  as 
though  he  had  been  on  short  rations  for  some 
time.  He  reported  that  the  boys  in  prison  were 
doing  as  well  as  could  be  expected  under  the 
circumstances. 

At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  26th 
the  Regiment  received  orders  to  embark  on  the 
steamer  "•  Alice  Vivian  "  at  daylight,  which  they 
did.  The  Second  Brigade  had  already  em- 
barked and  gone  up  the  river,  it  was  under- 
stood that  the  77th  Illinois,  83d  and  96th  Ohio, 


318  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

of  the  Third  Brigade,  were  to  follow;  but  soon 
after  going  on  board  orders  came  for  them  to 
wait  for  further  orders.  The  77th  and  96th  re- 
turned to  camp,  the  83d  remaining  at  the  river. 
Colonel  Moore,  Commanding  the  Brigade,  had 
probably  misunderstood  the  order.  When  the 
boys  returned  to  camp  they  found  that  the  camp 
wreckers  had  been  there.  They  had  carried  off 
boards,  bedding  and  everything  else,  so  that  the 
place  presented  a  sorry  appearance. 

On  the  28th  the  Regiment  turned  over  their 
Enfield  rifles  which  they  had  carried  so  long, 
and  were  armed  with  Springtields.  The  next 
day  they  were  ordered  to  turn  over  all  surplus 
baggage  and  prepare  for  the  coming  campaign. 
About  this  time  a  scene  was  enacted  which  was 
not  on  the  regular  programme.  The  3d  Mary- 
land Cavalry,  which  was  composed  partly  of 
deserters  from  the  rebel  army,  was  dismounted 
and  ordered  to  take  guns  as  infantry.  Four  of 
the  companies  refused  to  comply  with  the  order. 
The  67th  Indiana  was  ordered  out  to  quell  the 
mutiny.  The  companies  refusing  to  comply 
were  put  under  arrest.  A  strong  guard  was 
also  sent  from  the  77th  with  very  stringent 
orders.  There  is  a  convincing  logic  in  the  argu- 
ment of  bayonets.  The  mutinous  Marylanders 
soon  found  this  out  and  were  glad  to  return  to 
their  duty. 


CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTEENTH. 


GAINES    AND    MORGAN. 


§F  IT  be  true  —  and  who  can  doubt  it — that 
there  is  no  rest  for  the  wicked,  and  it'  we 
give  this  expression  a  literal   meaning,  we 
naturally  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Seven- 
ty-Seventh   was   a    very    wicked   Regiment,  for 
most  assuredly  they  enjoyed  but  few  seasons  of 
repose. 

On  the  evening  of  July  30th,  the  Regiment 
left  their  camp  and  went  aboard  the  steamship 
"St.  Charles,"  and  the  next  morning  found  them 
once  more  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Gulf.  Owing  to 
a  storm  the  vessel  could  not  cross  to  Ship  Island, 
the  point  of  immediate  destination,  until  Mon- 
day, August  1.  On  that  day,  at  3  o'clock  P.M.? 
they  cast  anchor  off  the  dreary  coast  of  the 
island,  and  waited  for  further  orders.  During 
the  night  of  the  second,  the  vessel  left  Ship 
Island,  and  the  next  day  reached  the  blockading 
fleet  off  Mobile  Bay.  In  the  distance  loomed  up 
the  frowning  battlements  of  Fort  Powell,  at  the 
junction  of  Mississippi  Sound  with  the  Bay, 


320  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

while  in  the  immediate  vicinity  the  rebel  gun- 
boats watched  vigilantly  the  movements  of  our 
land  and  naval  forces.  A  crisis  was  evidently 
approaching,  and  all  were  anxiously  awaiting  the 
result  of  the  impending  trial  of  strength  and 
skill.  On  the  third  of  August  the  troops  disem- 
barked, landing  on  Dauphine  Island,  Alabama. 
The  army  was  commanded  by  Major  General 
Gordon  Granger,  and  the  navy  by  the  brave  and 
successful  hero  of  many  battles,  Rear  Admiral 
D.  G.  Farragut,  Commanding  West  Gulf  Squad- 
ron. 

The  troops  landed  on  the  west  end  of  Dauphine 
Island.  The  water  was  so  shallow  near  the  shore 
that  the  vessels  had  to  cast  anchor  some  distance 
out,  and  skiffs  were  employed  to  land  the  troops. 
Before  night  they  were  safely  on  shore,  and 
ready  for  future  operations.  On  the  east  end  of 
the  island  was  Fort  Gaines,  probably  the  strongest 
work  on  the  Gulf  coast.  The  capture  of  that 
stronghold  was  the  object  of  this  expedition,  as 
a  preliminary  to  the  reduction  of  Fort  Morgan, 
across  the  channel,  and  the  ultimate  capture  of 
Mobile.  At  that  time  General  McGinnis  was  in 
command  of  the  troops  on  Dauphine  Island, 
while  Colonel  Grier,  of  the  77th,  was  second  in 
command.  Very  soon,  however,  the  General  was 
relieved,  and  the.  Colonel  was  ordered  to  take 
command,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  written  at  the  time : 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  i  1 

"  Fort  Gaines,  Aug.  8,  1864.  *  *  *  After 
a  day  or  two,  however,  Gen.  McGinnis  was  re- 
lieved and  Col.  Grier  of  the  77th,  was  ordered  to 
take  command  of  all  the  land  forces,  which  he 
did  with  characteristic  energy,  so  far  as  I  know, 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  Gen.  Granger  and  all 
the  troops.  So  when  you  see  Canby  or  Granger 
mentioned,  just  remember  that  our  Colonel  is 
often'the  one  who  did  the  work.  *  *  * "  It 
may  be  well  to  mention,  in  this  connection,  that 
Col.  Grier  retained  the  immediate  command  of 
the  troops  until  the  capture  of  Fort  Gaines,  and 
was  then  ordered  to  the  peninsula  on  which  Fort 
Morgan  stood,  and  was  in  command  during  the 
siege  and  capture  of  that  Fort. 

After  the  troops  had  Janded  on  the  island,  they 
were  pushed  forward  in  the  direction  of  Fort 
Gaines,  so  that  by  the  evening  of  the  4th  of 
August,  they  were  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of 
the  enemy's  works.  Skirmishing  began  imme- 
diately. Five  companies  of  the  77th  —  "C," 
"D,"  "F,"  "H"  and  "I"  — were  sent  to  the  front 
to  strengthen  the  pickets,  and  to  push  the  ad- 
vance sufficiently  near  to  allow  the  planting  of 
our  batteries. 

In  the  meantime  the  navy  was  busy.  The 
channel,  between  Fort  Gaines  and  Fort  Morgan, 
was  about  three  miles  wide,  but  the  rebels  had 
driven  piles  across,  leaving  only  a  narrow  channel 
next  to  Fort  Morgan,  through  which  vessels 


322  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

could  pass.  About  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  5th,  the  gunboats  moved  slowly  forward  in 
the  direction  of  this  narrow  channel.  The  mon- 
itors led  the  way,  followed  by  the  flag-ship 
"  Hartford,"  with  Admiral  Farragut  on  board. 
One  of  the  monitors,  in  entering  the  bay,  struck 
a  torpedo,  which  exploded,  and  the  brave  Capt. 
Craven,  and  his  crew  of  a  hundred  men,  found  a 
watery  grave.  When  within  range,  the  hteavy 
ordnance  of  the  Fort  opened  tire  on  the  daring 
fleet,  while  the  latter  replied  with  such  vigor 
that  the  earth  and  the  ocean  trembled  with  the 
concussion.  The  conflict  was  short,  for  soon  the 
fleet  had  passed  the  Fort  and  was  safe  inside 
the  bay. 

But  their  work  was  not  yet  done.  They  soon 
encountered  the  rebel  fleet  in  the  bay,  under  the 
command  of  Admiral  Buchanan.  One  of  the 
vessels  belonging  to  their  fleet,  was  the  celebrated 
ram  "  Tennessee."  The  engagement  was  short 
and  severe.  The  Union  fleet,  as  usual,  was  tri- 
umphant. Admiral  Buchanan  lost  a  leg  during 
the  action,  while  our  loss  was  severe.  The 
"  Tennessee  "  was  captured,  the  rebel  ram  Mor- 
gan, was  run  ashore  and  burned,  while  several 
of  their  vessels  made  their  escape  up  the  bay. 

After  our  fleet  had  entered  Mobile  Bay,  Fort 
Powell,  in  the  Mediterranean  Pass,  was  evacu- 
ated, and  the  guns  of  Fort  Gaines  were  turned 
upon  our  land  forces.  For  a  time  there  was 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  323 

some  lively  shelling.  But  our  troo'ps  were  not 
idle.  A  lauding  had  been  constructed  on  the 
coast  about  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.  Large  siege 
guns  were  landed  and  brought  forward  for  the 
reduction  of  the  Fort.  Earthworks  were  thrown 
up,  and  our  skirmishers  not  only  held  their 
ground,  but  steadily  advanced.  There  was  no 
escape  for  the  garrison,  and  our  boys  felt  sure 
that  the  surrender  of  the  Fort,  with  all  that  it 
contained,  was  only  a  question  of  a  few  days  at 
most. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  a  flag  of  truce  was 
seen  approaching  the  lines  from  Fort  Gaines,  and 
the  tiring  ceased.  The  next  morning  the  Fort 
surrendered  unconditionally  to  Admiral  Far- 
ragut.  The  troops  composing  the  garrison 
marched  out  in  front  of  our  lines  and  stacked 
their  arms.  They  numbered  725,  and  were 
mostly  boys  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  be- 
longing to  the  21st  Alabama  Regiment.  As  soon 
as  the  surrender  was  made,  the  "  Stars  and  Bars" 
—  the  emblem  of  secession — was  hauled  down, 
and  the  Flag  of  the  United  States  floated  proudly 
over  the  captured  works. 

The  next  day  the  Regiment  packed  knapsacks 
and  went  on  board  a  vessel  intending  to  cross  the 
bay,  to  operate  against  Fort  Morgan,  the  next 
point  of  attack.  In  crossing,  the  vessel  ran  on  a 
sand-bar,  and  stuck  fast.  Another  came  to  their 
relief  and  shared  the  same  fate.  They  were  then 


324  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

transferred  to  the  tin-clad  "  42,"  and  the  next 
morning  returned  to  Fort  Gaines. 

Iii  the  meantime,  Col.  Grier,  with  all  the  land 
forces,  excepting  the  77th  and  one  other  Kegi- 
ment,  crossed  over  to  the  peninsula,  and  laid  siege 
to  Fort  Morgan.  The  bombardment  went  on 
day  after  day  by  the  monitors  and  the  land  bat- 
teries, with  heavy  replies  from  the  Fort.  The 
22d,  however,  was  the  "  big  day"  in  the  siege  of 
Fort  Morgan.  At  daybreak  a  heavy  cannon- 
ading began  by  the  batteries  on  land  and  sea,  and 
was  maintained,  without  interruption,  all  day 
and  far  into  the  night.  The  Fort  was  enveloped 
in  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke,  and  twice,  during 
this  terrific  firing,  the  buildings  inside  were  set 
on  fire  by  our  shells. 

Such  a  conflict  could  not  long  continue.  At  7 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  a  white  flag 
was  hoisted  on  the  works,  and  one  was  seen  ap- 
proaching our  lines.  The  firing  ceased  and  terms 
of  capitulation  were  agreed  upon.  At  3  o'clock 
P.M.,  Fort  Morgan  was  again  the  property  of  the 
United  States.  The  Stars  and  Stripes, 

"  Flag  of  the  free  heart's  hope  and  home, 
By  angel  hands  to  valor  given," 

floated  proudly  over  the  fortress,  and  the  ram- 
parts were  patroled  by  the  "  Boys  in  Blue" 

The  Regiment  remained  on  the  island  until 
the  25th,  when  they  struck  tents  and  went  on  the 
steamer  "  J.  M.  Burr,"  and  crossed  over  to  Fort 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  325 

Morgan.  Here  they  took  on  board  the  96th  Ohio, 
and  also  a  lot  of  spades,  shovels,  axes,  wheel- 
barrows, etc.,  and  then  ran  up  to  Cedar  Point, 
above  Fort  Powell,  and  landed.  They  marched 
about  a  mile  and  then  returned,  as  the  point  was 
so  swampy  they  could  find  no  place  to  encamp. 

The  Brigade  now  consisted  of  five  Regiments, 
the  23d  Wisconsin,  67th  Indiana,  77th  Illinois, 
96th  Ohio  and  161st  New  York.  But  in  less 
than  a  week  another  change  was  made,  when  the 
Brigade  was  reduced  to  three  Regiments  —  the 
34th  Iowa,  67th  Indiana  and  77th  Illinois  —  and 
commanded  by  Col.  Clark,  of  the  34th  Iowa. 

Details  went  to  work  on  the  point,  throwing 
up  breastworks  and  bringing  forward  artillery 
from  the  boats.  The  boys  enjoyed  themselves 
feeding  on  fish  and  oysters,  which  were  abun- 
dant, while  the  mosquitoes  enjoyed  themselves 
feeding  on  the  boys.  But  as  there  was  not  room 
enough  for  so  many  troops,  the  Seventy-Seventh 
and  two  other  Regiments  crossed  the  Bay  and 
landed  at  Pilot  Town,  four  miles  in  rear  of  Fort 
Morgan.  But  they  did  not  remain  here  long. 
On  the  9th  of  September  they  went  on  the 
steamer  "Thomas  Sparks,"  and  turned  their 
prow  in  the  direction  of  the  Mississippi.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  the  llth  they  landed  in  front 
of  the  old  familiar  levee  at  New  Orleans,  but 
were  immediately  sent  up  the  river  to  their 
former  camping-ground  at  Morganza. 


326  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

As  this  was  the  year  of  the  presidential  elec- 
tion, a  vote  was  taken  in  the  Regiment  at  this 
place,  in  order  to  feel  the  political  pulse.  The 
vote  resulted  as  follows  : 

For  Abraham  Lincoln,      .  - .     .     .  303 

"    George  B.  McClellan,    ...       25 

Neutral, 17 


Total,     ...     345 

The  result  showed  very  conclusively  that  the 
boys  did  not  consider  "  the  war  a  failure"  as 
some  of  the  politicians  of  the  North  had  de- 
clared it  to  be. 


CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTEENTH. 

"  A    SOFT    THING." 


BOUT  the  only  "soft  thing"  the  boys 
enjoyed  while  in  the  service,  was  now 
before  them.  Captain  Stevens  had  gone 
to  New  Orleans  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a 
place  in  the  city  for  the  Regiment  during  the 
winter  He  succeeded  in  his  mission,  and  on  the 
6th  of  October  they  received  orders  to  pack 
their  traps  and  proceed  once  more  to  the  Crescent 
City.  They  obeyed  the  order  with  alacrity,  and, 
taking  passage  on  the  steamer  "  Laurel  Hill," 
bade  farewell  to  their  camp  at  Morganza  with- 
out regret. 

While  the  boat  was  lying  at  Port  Hudson, 
taking  on  wood,  there  was  a  detail  of  colored 
soldiers  stationed  on  board  and  on  the  gang- 
plank, as  was  usually  the  case  when  a  vessel 
landed,  to  prevent  desertion,  smuggling,  or  any 
contraband  traffic.  Captain  Stevens,  having  just 
returned  from  New  Orleans,  met  the  Regiment 
at  this  place.  As  he  was  walking  up  the  gang- 
plank to  go  on  the  boat  he  was  baited  by  a 


328  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

colored  soldier,  who  refused  to  let  him  pass  until 
the  officer  of  the  guard  was  called.  The  joke 
was  enjoyed  by  the  boys  a  great  deal  more  than 
it  was  by  the  Captain. 

At  Baton  Rouge  they  met  their  old  friends  of 
the  19th  Kentucky,  and  were  received  by  them 
with  fraternal  greetings.  The  Seventy-Seventh 
first  met  the  19th  at  Covington,  Ky.,  when  they 
came  in  from  Cumberland  Gap,  and  the  acquaint- 
ance thus  formed  ripened  into  a  friendship 
which  lasted  during  the  war,  and  has  been 
remembered  with  pleasure  ever  since.  They 
were  a  sorry-looking  lot  of  soldiers — "dirty, 
ragged  and  forlorn."  But  they  were  cheerful, 
even  jolly  in  their  misfortunes.  They  would 
sing  "  Happy  Land  of  Canaan  "  or  "  We  '11  hang 
Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree,"  with  a  great 
deal  of  enthusiasm.  For  nearly  two  years  the 
two  Regiments  had  marched  and  fought  side  by 
side  in  the  same  campaigns,  and  a  truer  body  of 
soldiers  than  the  19th  Kentucky  was  never  or- 
ganized and  led  into  the  field.  "Always  cheer- 
ful, always  ready,  generous  to  a  fault,  loyal  to 
the  core;  the  kind  of  material  that  any  army 
might  well  be  proud  of." 

As  soon  as  the  Regiment  arrived  at  New  Or- 
leans they  took  up  their  abode  in  Picayune  Press 
No.  4.  The  77th  relieved  the  48th  Ohio,  which 
was  sent  to  Natchez,  Miss.  Our  boys  now  had 
the  pleasure  —  if  it  could  be  called  a  pleasure  — 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  329 

of  guarding  the  prisoners  they  had  assisted  in 
capturing  at  Fort  Gaines.  On  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober—  only  two  days  after  their  arrival — a 
detail  was  sent  to  Dry  Tortugas  in  charge  of  a 
lot  of  prisoners.  And  such  expeditious  were 
frequent  during  the  fall  and  winter  months.  On 
one  occasion  about  two  hundred  prisoners  were 
sent  away  to  be  placed  in  "  durance  vile  "  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  And  the  scene  was  a  sad 
one,  although  they  were  our  foes.  Fathers  and 
mothers  —  brothers  and  sisters — sons  and  daugh- 
ters were  there  to  give  a  parting  grasp  of  the 
hand,  and  bid  a  tearful  farewell  to  their  friends, 
as  they  marched  away  under  a  strong  guard  of 
bristling  bayonets. 

On  the  24th,  Captain  Stearns,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Mansfield,  returned  to  the  Regiment 
from  Tyler,  Texas,  after  an  an  absence  of  more 
than  six  months.  The  boys  were  glad  to  see 
him  at  home  again,  and  also  to  receive  intelli- 
gence from  their  comrades,  who  were  still  lan- 
guishing in  the  prison-pen. 

The  religious  opportunities  of  the  Regiment 
while  in  the  city,  were  excellent.  Besides  their 
own  services,  they  were  allowed  to  attend  any 
of  the  churches  they  preferred.  The  Rev.  Dr.  J. 
P.  Newman,  an  eloquent  speaker  and  an  earnest 
worker,  preached  at  the  M.  E.  Church,  on  Caron- 
delet  street.  This  church  drew  most  of  its 

attendance    from   the   army.     In    fact,  judging 
21 


330  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

by  the  blue  coats  present  at  all  the  services,  it 
seemed  to  be  almost  exclusively,  a  soldier's 
church. 

Some  of  the  boys  received  details  and  were 
detached  from  the  Regiment  for  a  time.  On  the 
10th  of  November,  a  General  Court  Martial  for 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  was  ordered  to  con- 
vene at  No.  38  Union  Street.  Of  this  Court, 
Captain  J.  D.  Rouse,  of  Co.  "G,"  was  Judge 
Advocate;  Musician  J.  H.  Snyder,  of  Co.  "I," 
was  Clerk,  and  Private  Joseph  Tronier,  of  Co. 
"  D,"  was  Orderly.  Other  details  were  also  made 
from  different  companies. 

In  December,  some  important  changes  were 
made  in  the  Department  of  West  Mississippi. 
The  troops  composing  the  old  13th  Army  Corps, 
and  such  as  remained  of  the  19th,  were  formed 
into  a  "  Reserve  Corps  "  of  four  Brigades,  each 
to  be  commanded  by  a  Brigadier  General.  The 
77th  was  assigned  to  this  corps,  and  ordered  to 
proceed  at  once  to  Brazos  Santiago,  at  -the  mouth 
of  the  Rio  Grande.  This  order  was  issued  by  a 
new  Adjutant  General,  at  Gen.  Hurlbut's  Head- 
quarters, without  the  General's  knowledge. 
Colonel  Grier  went  to  see  about  it,  and  General 
Hurlbut  at  once  revoked  the  order.  And  so  the 
Regiment  secured  a  new  lease  of  life  on  garrison 
duty. 

With  light  duties  to  perform,  with  plenty  to 
eat  and  good  clothes  to  wear,  with  the  freedom 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  331 

of  the  city  and  access  to  places  of  instruction 
and  amusement,  the  winter  passed  pleasantly 
away.  The  companies  were  stationed  at  different 
places.  Some  in  Alabama  Press,  some  in  Pic- 
ayune Press,  some  on  Levee  Street,  and  else- 
where, so  that  any  one  wishing  to  visit  the 
Regiment,  had  a  long  tramp  before  he  could  see 
them  all. 

But  it  was  not  long  until  the  first  note  of 
preparation  for  an  approaching  campaign  was 
heard.  Several  of  the  Regiments  had  become 
reduced  below  the  standard  allowed  by  the  War 
Department.  Among  these  were  the  77th  and 
130th  Illinois,  and  they  were  consolidated,  the 
latter,  for  the  time  being,  losing  its  identity,  and 
the  former  retaining  its  original  name  and  num- 
ber. This  proceeding  was  distasteful  to  the  men 
of  both  Regiments,  as  they  preferred  to  retain 
their  own  separate  existence  until  finally  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service.  The  following  orders 
will  explain  how  the  consolidation  was  effected: 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF,  ) 
NEW  ORLEANS,  January  14,  1865.      j 

Special  Orders,  No.  14- 

Extract. 

**#*##*;(;# 

IX.  The  Seventy-Seventh  and  One  Hundred 
and  Thirtieth  Illinois  Volunteers  will  be  consol- 
idated, and  known  as  the  Seventy  -  Seventh 


332  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Illinois  Volunteers.  Brigadier  General  T.  W. 
Sherman,  commanding  Defences  of  New  Orleans 
(who  is  charged  with  the  execution  of  this  order), 
will  designate  such  commissioned  officers  as  will 
be  retained  in  the  service,  to  command  the  new 
organization.  All  other  officers  will  be  at  once 
mustered  out  of  service. 

All  supernumerary  non-commissioned  officers, 
who  were  appointed  as  such  at  the  date  of  the 
original  organization  of  their  respective  com- 
panies, will  be  mustered  out  of  service. 

All  other  surplus  non-commissioned  officers, 
who  have  been  appointed  since  the  original 
organization,  will  be  reduced. 

By  command  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  HURLBUT. 
C.  8.  SARGENT, 

Official:  1st  Lieut.  2d  La.  Vols.  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 

J.  C.  STONE, 

Captain  and  A.  A.  O. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEFENCES  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  } 
NEW  ORLEANS,  January  21,  1865.     j 

Special  Orders,  No.  18. 

Extract. 

I.  In  accordance  with  Special  Orders,  No.  14,  current 
series,  Department  of  the  Gulf,  the  following-named  officers 
of  the  Seventy-Seventh  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth 
Illinois  Volunteers,  are  retained  in  the  service;  and  all  the 
rest  will  be  mustered  out  by  the  Chief  Mustering  Officer, 
Defences  of  New  Orleans: 


tLLItfOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  333 

Colonel David  P.  Grier 77th  111. Vol. 

Lieutenant  Colonel John  B.  Reid 130th  111. Vol. 

Surgeon Charles  Winnie ..  77th  111. Vol. 

Assistant  Surgeon John  Stoner 77th  111.  Vol. 

First  Lieut,  and  Adj't,  Henry  P.  Ayres 77th  Ill.Vol- 

First  Lieut,  and  Q.M.,  David  McKinney 77th  111. Vol. 

Chaplain John  S.  McCulloch 77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Joseph  M.  McCulloch..  77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Robert  H.  Brock 77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Edwin  Stevens 77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain John  D.  Rouse 77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Jesse  R.  Johnson 130th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain John  W.  Watts 130th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Jacob  Wilken 130th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Milgrove  B.  Parmeter..  77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain Gardner  G.  Stearns 77th  Ill.Vol. 

Captain J.  Kirby  Secord 77th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant Samuel  J.  Smith 77th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant William  Harned 130th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant Henry  J.Wyman 77th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant Clark  S.  Crary 130th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant Thomas  C.  Mathews...  77th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant Edward  S.  Dewey 130th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant John  W.  Paulson 130th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant Joseph  F.  Parker 130th  Ill.Vol. 

First  Lieutenant John  M.   Shields 77th  Ill.Vol- 

First  Lieutenant George  C.  Kenyon 77th  Ill.Vol. 

Second  Lieutenant Marcus  O.  Harkness...  77th  Ill.Vol. 

Second  Lieutenant Wilson  J.  Neil 130th  Ill.Vol. 

Second  Lieutenant Andrew  S.  Martin 130th  Ill.Vol. 

Second  Lieutenant Charles  W.  Johnson. ..130th  Ill.Vol. 

Second  Lieutenant Charles  F.  McCulloch..  77th  Ill.Vol. 

Second  Lieutenant Henry  L.  Bushnell 77th  Ill.Vol. 

By  command  of 

BRIGADIER  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 
Official :  FREDERICK  SPEED,  A.  A.  6. 

J.  E.  MALLORY,  1st  Lieut,  and  A.  A.  A.  O. 


334 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


On  the  25th  of  January,  the  consolidation  was 
completed  by  the  union  of  the  two  Regiments  in 
one.  While  the  130th  ceased  to  exist  as  a 
separate  organization,  the  strength  of  the  77th 
was  materially  increased,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  figures : 

Company     '  E," 48 

Company     '  F," 58 

Company 
Company 


Field  and  Staff. 1 

Non-commissioned  Staff..     1 

Line  Officers 11 

Company   "A," 17 

Company   "  B," 68 

Company   "  C," 41 

Company   "  D," 46 


Company 
Company 


G,". 
H,". 

I,"  • 
K," 


88 
54 

41 


Making  a  total  increase  in  the  strength  of  the 
Regiment  of  473  men. 

On  the  10th  of  February  the  Regiment  was 
inspected,  and  in  the  afternoon  they  left  their 
quarters  in  Wood's  Press  and  marched  down 
Canal  Street  to  Carondelet,  thence  down  to 
Tivoli  Circle,  thence  up  St.  Charles  to  Canal 
Street  and  back  to  their  camp.  On  the  line  of 
march  they  passed  the  Headquarters  of  Brigadier 
General  T.  W.  Sherman,  Commanding  Defences 
of  New  Orleans;  of  Major  General  S.  A.  Hurl- 
but,  Commanding  Department  of  the  Gulf,  and 
of  Major  General  E.  R.  S.  Canby,  Commanding 
Department  of  West  Mississippi. 

The  annual  Spring  activity  now  began  to 
prevail  in  military  circles.  Street  parades, 
regimental  inspections  etc.,  were  frequent  oe- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  335 

currences.  The  Seventy-Seventh  received  orders 
to  be  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice. 
Everything  seemed  to  indicate  a  forward  move- 
ment in  the  near  future.  As  a  further  evidence 
of  this,  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Regiment  on 
detached  service  were  ordered  to  rejoin  their 
companies,  as  the  subjoined  Special  Order  will 
show. 

HEADQUARTERS  SOUTHERN  DIST.  OF  LOUISIANA,  ) 
NEW  ORLEANS,  February  18,  1865.  j 

Special  Orders,  No.  55. 

Extract. 

IV.  In  obedience  to  General  Orders,  No.  37, 
series  of  1864,  from  Headquarters,  Military  Divi- 
sion of  West  Mississippi,  the  following-named 
men  of  the  77th  Illinois  Volunteers  are  hereby 
relieved  from  their  present  duties  and  will  at 
once  rejoin  their  companies  : 

Sergeant  B.  F.  Rice,  .  .  .  Company  "D." 
Sergeant  William  C.  McGowan,  Company  "H." 
Corporal  C.  A.  Stevenson,  .  Company  "  E." 
Wagoner  L.  Z.  Rench,  .  .  .  Company  "  E." 
Private  Joseph  Tronier,  .  Company  "D." 
Musician  Jacob  H.  Snyder,  .  .  Company  "  I." 

*^:^****** 

By  command  of 

BRIGADIER  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

FREDERICK  SPEED,  A.A.G. 


CHAPTER  THE  NINETEENTH. 


MOBILE. 


>EVENTY-SEVENTH,  forward !  Take 
off  your  paper  collars.  Leave  your 
blacking-brushes  and  brass  mountings 
behind.  Git  up  and  git"  or  words  to  that  effect, 
was  the  order  of  February  20,  1865. 

In  compliance  with  this  order  they  left  their 
camp  at  a  little  before  noon,  and  marched  to 
Bull's  Head  Landing,  where  they  remained  in 
the  dock-yard  all  the  afternoon,  and  at  dark 
went  aboard  the  steamer  "  St.  Mary  "  —  the  same 
"St.  Mary"  which  had  brought  them  from 
Texas  a  year  before.  Some  of  the  boys  still 
clung  to  their  paper  collars — the  last  relic  of 
garrison  life.  Homer  H.  Higbie  and  some  of  the 
others  who  thought  these  were  unnecessary  or- 
naments in  an  active  campaign,  went  through 
the  Regiment  and  despoiled  the  boys  of  their 
treasures.  In  doing  so  they  acted  on  the  princi- 
ple, "  peacably  if  we  can,  forcibly  if  we  must," 
and  as  a  general  thing  the  "must"  had  it  by  a 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  337 

large   majority,  to   the  amusement  of  all  con- 
cerned. 

The  next  morning  found  them  once  more. on 
the  blue  waters  of  the  Gulf.  But  the  sea  was 
rough  and  boisterous.  Heavy  winds,  increasing 
to  a  gale,  blew  from  the  west.  The  storm  in- 
creased in  violence.  The  vessel  rolled  from  side 
to  side,  or  plunged  madly  forward  over  the  bil- 
lows. The  boys  began  to  think  they  were  on 
their  last  excursion.  There  were  pale  faces  and 
anxious  hearts  on  board  that  day.  The  old  sea- 
sickness returned,  and  the  old  process  of  "  heav- 
ing up  Jonah  "  was  resorted  to  by  way  of  relief. 
Home,  and  Mother  occupied  many  thoughts, 
while  by  many  others  the  Patron  Saints  were 
invoked  for  deliverance.  The  horses  and  mules, 
as  well  as  the  men,  were  terribly  bruised  and 
battered  by  the  storm.  In  order  to  escape  the 
storm  the  vessel  was  finally  run  in  under  the 
shelter 'of  Chandler's  Island,  about  fifty  miles 
from  Fort  Morgan.  They  remained  here  until 
the  morning  of  the  23d,  when  they  weighed 
anchor,  proceeded  on  their  way,  although  the 
sea  was  still  rough,  and  landed  at  Fort  Morgan 
in  the  afternoon.  As  one  of  them  said,  "  they 
were  glad  to  serve  as  dry-land  sailors,  rather 
than  as  soldiers  on  the  sea."  It  was  raining, 
and  as  soon  as  they  stacked  arms,  they  sought 
shelter  under  a  pontoon  train,  and  there  they 
spent  the  night. 


338  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  the  following  order 
was  issued  by  the  War  Department: 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  } 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  i- 

WASHINGTON,  February  28,  1865.       ) 

General  Orders,  No.  J*. 

The  Thirteenth  and  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  hav- 
ing been  reorganized  by  Major  General  Canby,  by 
direction  of  the  President,  Major  General  Gor- 
don Granger  is  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
former,  and  Major  General  A.  J.  Smith  to  the 
latter;  their  assignment  to  date  from  February 
18th.  By  order  of 

The  Secretary  of  War. 
E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

As  now  constituted,  the  Third  Division  was 
organized  as  follows : 

3d  Division,  13th  Army  Corps. 

Brigadier    General    W.    P.    Benton,    Com- 
manding. 

1st  Brigade. —  Colonel  D.  P.  Grier,  Commanding. 
28th  and  77th  Illinois,  96th  Ohio  and  35th 
Wisconsin. 

2d  Brigade. —  Colonel Day,    Commanding. 

7th  Vermont,  91st  Illinois,  29th  Iowa  and 
50th  Indiana. 

3d  Brigade. —  Colonel Krez,   Commanding. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  339 

27th   and  28th   Wisconsin,    33d    Iowa"  and 
77th  Ohio. 
Artillery. —  21st  and   26th  New  York  Batteries. 

And  now  the  "Old  Thirteenth"  is  resurrected. 
Again  it  figures  in  history.  But  how  changed  ! 
Some  of  the  old  forces  remain,  but  most  of  the 
material  is  new.  We  miss  the  old  familiar  faces 
of  the  19th  Kentucky — the  67th  Indiana  —  the 
48th  Ohio,  and  others.  The  Mercantile  Battery, 
of  our  own  State  is  not  with  us  now.  But  no 
matter.  They  are  doing  their  appropriate  work, 
and  will  render  a  good  account  of  themselves 
wherever  they  go. 

Good  news  reached  the  boys  from  other  parts 
of  the  great  field  embraced  in  the  rebellion. 
General  Sherman  had  forced  his  way  from  "  At- 
lanta to  the  Sea."  Our  Flag  floated  over  the 
battered  works  of  Fort  Sumter.  General  Grant 
was  hammering  away  at  Richmond,  with  pros- 
pects of  ultimate  success.  The  coils  were  tight- 
ening around  the  "  Confederacy."  The  end  was 
drawing  near,  and  visions  of  "  Home,  sweet 
Home,"  animated  the  men  at  Mobile,  and  in- 
spired them  with  new  life. 

On  the  17th  of  March  the  troops  moved  for- 
ward. All  unnecessary  baggage  was  left  behind. 
The  officers  were  ordered  to  take  "  dog-tents," 
instead  of  the  commodious  tents  they  had  been 
using.  The  march  began  at  daylight.  The 


340  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTfi 

roads  were  sandy  and  swampy.  The  country 
was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  pines  and 
underbrush.  Corduroy  roads  were  built  in  order 
to  render  the  passage  of  wagons  and  artillery 
possible.  Slow  progress  was  made,  as  they 
marched  only  twelve  miles  the  first  day,  and 
ten  the  second.  But  the  worst  was  yet  to  come. 
On  the  night  of  the  20th  one  of  those  southern 
rain  storms,  with  which  they  had  become  so 
familiar,  descended  upon  them.  The  next  day 
they  marched,  or  rather  waded,  only  two  miles, 
and  this  through  water  from  two  inches  to  two 
feet  deep.  The  teams  could  not  draw  the 
wagons,  and  the  men  were  detailed  as  brevet 
males.  Covered  with  mud  and  full  of  fun,  the 
boys  pulled  the  wagons  through  the  swamps, 
twenty  men  doing  the  work  of  a  span  of  mules. 
What  a  scene  for  the  poet  or  the  painter ! 

Through  all  these  discouragements  the  troops 
pressed  on,  and  on  the  night  of  the  22d  encamped 
on  the  East  Branch  of  Fish  River.  All  day  they 
could  hear  heavy  cannonading  in  advance,  far 
up  the  bay.  The  next  morning  early,  the  march 
was  resumed,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon they  went  into  camp.  General  A.  J. 
Smith  occupied  the  advance  with  the  16th  Army 
Corps.  He  had  been  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  during  the  day,  and  now  held  a  forti- 
fied position  to  be  prepared  for  any  attack 
that  might  be  made.  They  remained  in  camp 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  341 

a  couple  of  days  and  then  moved  forward.  The 
timber  was  dense  and  dark,  and  the  marching 
tedious  and  slow.  On  the  morning  of  the  26th 
the  troops  took  an  early  start.  General  Smith 
marched  off  on  a  road  leading  to  the  right,  and 
General  Bertram  to  the  left.  The  1st  and  3d 
Divisions  of  the  13th  Corps  occupied  the  centre. 
As  they  were  now  in  the  vicinity  of  Spanish 
Fort,  every  precaution  was  taken  to  guurd 
against  surprise.  Works  were  thrown  up  in 
front  every  night,  and  the  utmost  vigilance 
maintained  all  along  the  line. 

At  last,  on  the  night  of  the  27th,  the  fort  was 
invested.  The  line  extended  around  the  works 
in  the  form  of  a  half  circle,  touching  the  bay  on 
the  right  and  left.  The  monitors  in  the  bay 
occupied  the  enemy's  attention  in  that  direction. 
During  the  next  three  or  four  days  heavy  siege- 
guns  were  brought  forward  and  placed  in  posi- 
tion, and  all  the  necessary  preparations  com- 
pleted for  an  energetic  prosecution  of  the  siege. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  Garrett  D.  Pence,  of 
Company  "I,"  was  shot  in  the  right  shoulder 
and  very  severely  wounded.  It  was  the  custom 
of  the  boys  to  lay  a  piece  of  wood  on  the  top  of 
their  breastworks  and  then  to  dig  a  hole  under 
the  wood  through  which  to  fire  at  the  enemy. 
Garrett  had  been  exchanging  shots  all  night 
with  a  rebel  picket,  without  inflicting  any  dam- 
age on  either  side.  In  the  morning  he  saw  a 


342  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

piece  of  wood  lying  just  in  front  of  the  works, 
which  he  thought  would  be  a  good  thing  to 
afford  protection  for  him.  Just  as  he  reached 
over  to  secure  the  prize,  the  rebel  fired  and  Gar- 
rett  received  the  .shot  in  his  shoulder.  The  only 
complaint  the  brave  boy  made,  as  he  came  back 
to  the  Regiment,  was  that  the  rebel  might  have 
allowed  him  to  get  the  piece  of  wood  to  fix  up 
his  port  hole. 

On  the  6th  an  official  dispatch  was  received 
from  General  Canby,  ordering  a  salute  of  one 
hundred  shotted  guns  to  be  fired  at  twelve  o'clock 
in  honor  of  a  great  victory  won  by  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  at  Petersburg,  by  the  Army  of  the 
Mississippi  in  North  Carolina,  and  by  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  at  Selma,  Alabama. 

On  the  evening  of  the  8th  our  batteries  and 
siege-guns  opened  with  terrible  effect  on  the 
rebel  works,  followed  by  incessant  volleys  of 
musketry.  Then  loud  and  prolonged  cheers 
were  heard,  and  all  was  quiet  again.  A  dispatch 
from  General  Cauby  announced  that  General 
Smith  had  charged  the  rebel  line,  had  carried 
three  hundred  yards  of  rifle-pits,  and  captured 
two  hundred  prisoners.  At  midnight  a  rumor 
came  that  the  rebels  had  evacuated  and  that  our 
skirmishers  had  entered  the  works.  And  thus 
another  victory  was  added  to  the  long  list  already 
recorded. 

The  next  day  the  13th  Army  Corps  left  Span- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  343 

ish  Fort  and  marched  to  Blakely,  already  in- 
vested by  General  Steele.  Fearing  'the  works 
would  be  evacuated  that  night,  General  Steele 
prepared  for  an  immediate  assault.  At,  five 
o'clock  the  batteries  began  the  work.  Then 
the  infantry  poured  in  destructive  volleys  of 
musketry.  Soon  after  a  loud  cheer  arose  from 
the  centre  —  another  from  the  left  and  then  on 
the  right,  indicating  the  successive  points  at 
which  the  works  had  been  successfully  stormed. 
The  conflict  was  short  and  the  victory  complete. 

The  assault  was  made  by  the  First  arid  Second 
Divisions  of  the  13th  Army  Corps,  and  by  Gen. 
Hawkins'  Division  of  colored  troops.  Some  of 
the  officers  in  this  Division  had  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  77th,  and  they  said  that  their  men, 
when  they  made  the  charge,  raised  the  battle- 
cry,  "  Remember  Fort  Pillow !"  and  rushing  upon 
their  foes,  plunged  their  bayonets  into  some  of 
them  before  they  could  be  checked  by  the  offi- 
cers. If  General  Forest  and  his  cut-throats  had 
been  there,  a  terrible  retribution  would  have 
been  visited  upon  them. 

As  all  the  works  guarding  the  approaches  to 
the  city  of  Mobile  were  now  in  our  possession, 
the  further  defence  of  that  place  was  a  needless 
waste  of  time,  powder  and  life.  Accordingly, 
soon  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Blakely  the  rebels 
began  to  evacuate  the  city.  At  dark  on  the  llth 
our  troops  were  again  in  motion,  marching  to 


344  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Stark's  Landing,  about  three  miles  below  the 
fort.  Transports  were  in  waiting.  The  troops 
began  to  embark  immediately,  and  as  soon  as  a 
vessel  was  loaded  it  pushed  from  the  pier  and 
anchored  in  the  bay.  The  next  morning  all  the 
vessels  moved  across  to  Cat  Fish  Point,  five 
miles  below  Mobile,  and  landed.  It  was  feared 
that  in  crossing  the  bay  some  torpedoes  might 
be  encountered,  but  no  accident  occurred.  Soon 
after  the  landing  was  effected  the  following  cor- 
respondence took  place  between  our  laud  and 
naval  commanders  and  the  Mayor  of  the  city : 

HEADQUARTERS,  LAND  AND  NAVAL  U.  S.  FORCES,  ) 
MOBILE,  ALABAMA,  April  12,  1865.  j 

MAYOR  SLOUGH,  Mobile,  Ala. 

Sir :     Your  city  is  menaced  by  a  large 
land  and  naval  force.     We  deem  it  proper  to  de- 
mand its  immediate  and  unconditional  surrender. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

Major  General  GORDON  GRANGER. 
Acting  Rear  Admiral  H.  K.  THATCHER. 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE,  CITY  OF  MOBILE,  1 
April  12,  1865.         J 

Gentlemen :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  communication  at  the  hands 
of  Lieut.  Col.  R.  G.  Laughlin,  staff  of  Major 
General  Granger,  Commanding  13th  Army 
Corps,  and  Lieut.  Commander  S.  R.  Franklin, 
U.  S.  Navy,  staff  of  Admiral  Thatcher,  demand- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  345 

ing  the  immediate  and  unconditional  surrender 
of  this  city. 

The  city  has  been  evacuated  by  the  military 
authorities,  and  its  municipal  authority  is  now 
under  my  control.  Your  demand  has  been 
granted,  and  I  trust,  gentlemen,  for  the  sake  of 
humanity,  all  the  safeguards  which  you  can 
throw  around  our  people  will  be  secured  to 
them.  Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

R.  H.  SLOUGH, 

Mayor  of  the  city  of  Mobile. 

To  Major  General  Gordon  Granger,  Command- 
ing 13th  Army  Corps;  Acting  Rear  Admiral 
H.  K.  Thatcher,  Commanding  West  Gulf 
Sqadron. 

General  Veatch,  with  a  part  of  the  1st  Divi- 
sion, 13th  Army  Corps,  was  at  once  placed  in 
command  of  the  city.  The  results  of  the  cam- 
paign up  to  this  time  may  be  briefly  stated  in 
the  language  of  General  Canby  :  "  The  capture 
of  the  enemy's  works  at  Spanish  Fort  and 
Blake ly;  the  surrender  of  Mobile;  the  capture 
of  more  than  live  thousand  prisoners;  twelve 
flags;  nearly  three  hundred  pieces  of  artillery; 
several  thousand  stands  of  small  arms,  and  large 
stores  of  ammunition  and  other  materials  of 
war." 

On  the  day  after  the  surrender  the  3d  Division 
22 


346  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

was  ordered  to  march  to  Whistler  Station,  on 
the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  about  six  miles 
from  the  city.'  The  1st  Brigade  was  in  front, 
with  the  Seventy-Seventh  band  at  the  head  of 
the  column  to  furnish  the  music  as  they  marched 
through  the  city.  Crowds  of  people  of  all  ages, 
colors  and  conditions  appeared  on  the  streets. 
Several  National  airs  were  played  and  many  of 
the  older  people  gave  expression  to  their  feel- 
ings by  exclaiming  "  God  bless  you,"  "  God  be 
praised,"  etc.  Two  or  three  old  ladies  standing 
in  a  group,  said,  when  the  boys  played  Yankee 
Doodle — "  That's  the  good  old  tune,  that's  the 
good  old  tune!" 

After  leaving  the  city  and  reaching  the  up- 
lands, General  Benton  allowed  foraging  parties 
to  bring. in  cattle  for  the  troops.  The  boys  were 
also  allowed  to  pick  up  poultry  along  the  way, 
provided  they  did  not  "straggle."  By  this  ar- 
rangement geese,  turkeys,  chickens  etc.,  were 
"  taken  in  and  done  for." 

As  General  Benton  was  riding  at  the  head  of 
the  column,  a  soldier  caught  a  chicken  just  in 
front  of  him.  He  had  an  axe  in  his  hand,  and 
dropping  on  one  knee  whacked  oft'  the  chicken's 
head  exclaiming  vehemently,  "  I'll  show  you  how 
to  bite  me."  The  General  laughed  heartily  and 
rode  on. 

At  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they 
reached  Whistler  Station.  Upon  the  arrival  of 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  347 

our  advance,  they  found  some  rebels  here  who 
had  set  tire  to  the  buildings.  They  were  driven 
beyond  Eight-Mile  Creek,  where  they  joined  a 
force  of  about  five  hundred  cavalry.  As  the 
Brigades  came  up,  they  unslung  knapsacks  and 
started  on  the  double-quick  for  the  front.  Quite 
a  brisk  tight  ensued.  Our  troops  tried  to  flank 
them,  but  the  cavalry  was  too  quick  and  made 
their  escape.  Three  of  our  boys,  belonging  to 
the  91st  Illinois,  were  wounded  and  four  of  the 
rebels  killed.  This  was  the  last  engagement  in 
which  the  Seventy- Seventh  participated. 

When  General  Benton  ordered  the  boys  for- 
ward that  afternoon,  some  of  them  asked  him : 
"  What  shall  we  do  with  our  chickens,  Gen- 
eral ?"  "  Leave  them  with  your  knapsacks  until 
you  come  back,"  he  replied.  A  detail  of  two  or 
three  men  was  made  from  each  company  to  re- 
main and  see  that  the  chickens  did  not  get  away. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  the  21st  and  26th  New 
York  Batteries  each  fired  one  hundred  guns  in 
honor  of  the  great  victories  achieved  by  Grant 
and  Sherman  in  the  east.  Rumors  were  also 
current  that  the  Trans-Mississippi  Army  had 
surrendered.  So  much  good  news  coming  so 
soon  after  their  own  victories  made  the  boys 
feel  jubilant. 

They  left  their  camp  at  Whistler  Station  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th,  leaving  the  28th  Illinois  to 
garrison  the  place.  Nothing  occurred  to  break 


348  THE  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

the  monotony  of  th'e  march  or  the  camp,  until 
Sunday,  the  23d.  On  that  day  they  received  in- 
telligence of  the  assassination  of  their  President, 
ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  !  Upon  him,  more  than  upon 
any  other  man,  had  they  depended  for  the  sal- 
vation of  the  country  during  the  last  four  years. 
He  had  stood  bravely  at  the  helm  through  all 
the  storms;  and  now  to  be  stricken  down  by  the 
cowardly  assassin,  instigated  by  southern  trai- 
tors, just  as  he  was  bringing  the  old  Ship  of 
State  safely  into  the  harbor,  seemed  to  be  too 
much  to  endure.  The  rebels  had  been  guilty  of 
many  atrocities,  but  this  was  the  crowning  act 
of  their  infamy.  They  could  descend  no  lower 
than  this.  No  wonder  that  our  brave  boys 
in  Alabama  felt  indignant  when  the  news 
reached  them  on  that  Sabbath  day.  If  they 
had  been  free  from  official  restraint  they  would 
gladly  have  marched  all  through  rebeldom,  car- 
rying tire  and  the  sword  of  vengeance  in  their 
hands.  They  would  have  hung  "  Jeff  Davis  on 
a  sour  apple  tree,"  without  compunction  and 
without  remorse. 

On  the  25th,  the  2d  and  3d  Brigades  left 
Nannahubba  Bluff,  and  the  1st  Brigade  followed 
the  next  morning,  marching  to  Mclntosh  Bluff, 
ten  miles  further  up  the  Tombigbee  River.  At 
this  place  the  boys  erected  a  flag-staff  eighty  feet 
high,  and  the  starry  banner  was  run  up  and 
floated  in  triumph  over  the  headquarters  of 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  349 

General  Benton.  Many  of  the  citizens  from  the 
surrounding  country  came  in  and  took  the  oath 
of  allegiance.  On  the  2d  of  May  the  2d  Brigade 
was  sent  out  on  a  foraging  expedition.  When 
about  four  miles  from  camp  they  met  a  flag  of 
truce.  A  letter  was  handed  to  Colonel  Day, 
which  proved  to  be  an  official  document  from 
General  Dick  Taylor  to  his  forces  at  Citronville, 
stating  that  an  armistice  had  been  agreed  upon 
between  himself  and  General  Canby.  The  Bri- 
gade immediately  returned  to  camp,  and  an 
officer  was  sent  to  Mobile  on  the  gunboat  "  Oc- 
torora,"  with  the  news. 

As  a  result  of  this  armistice,  the  armies  of  the 
Rebellion  in  the  south-west  surrendered  to  Gen- 
eral Canby.  All  the  personal  effects  of  the  late 
"  Confederacy,"  including  gunboats,  transports, 
etc.,  became  the  property  of  the  United  States. 
The  rebel  fleet  at  that  time  was  at  Demopolis, 
some  distance  up  the  river.  It  was  not  long, 
however,  until  they  put  in  an  appearance  at 
Mclntosh  Bluff,  and  then  the  work  of  loading 
the  troops  and  stores  was  begun.  On  the  9th  of 
May  —  "all  aboard"  —  the  transports  started 
down  the  river  in  the  following  order  : 

Flagship,      .....       •{  Cherokee. 

First  Brigade,     .     .      . 


(  Reindeer, 

Second  Brigade,     .     .     .    <  Admiral, 

Dorrance. 


350  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

26th  New  York  Battery,     •{  Jefi'  Davis. 

f  Marengo, 

mu-  j    T>  •      j  Sumter, 

Third  Brigade,     •     •     •         Waverly, 

(_  Watson. 
21st  New  York  Battery,      •{  Magnolia. 

Pioneers, <(  Duke. 

Transports  without  troops. 

They  reached  Mobile  in  the  evening,  and  at 
ten  o'clock  at  night  went  into  camp  about  three 
miles  out  in  the  direction  of  Whistler.  Here 
they  remained,  reposing  on  their  laurels,  until 
the  15th,  when  they  received  orders  to  be  ready 
to  move  at  an  hour's  notice  —  all  surplus  bag- 
gage to  be  stored  at  Mobile  —  rations  for  five 
days — fifty  rounds  of  ammunition — caissons  to 
be  well  filled.  "  What  next?"  No  one  could 
answer  the  question. 

The  next  day  the  calm  was  broken  by  long, 
loud  and  boisterous  cheering.  The  word  came 
that  Jeff  Davis — the  head  and  front  of  the  re- 
bellion— was  a  prisoner,  and  there  was  good 
reason  for  cheering. 

On  the  3d  of  June  all  the  troops  in  the  city  of 
Mobile  and  vicinity  were  reviewed  by  General 
Granger;  partly  as  a  preparation  for  future  oper- 
ations, and  partly  in  honor  of  Salmon  P.  Chase, 
Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  who  was 
then  on  a  visit  to  Mobile.  The  following  ex- 
tracts are  from  the  New  Orleans  Times : 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  351 

"*  *  *  The  soldiers  formed  on  Government 
Street,  and  marched  up  Royal  Street,  past  the 
Battle  House,  when  General  Granger  and  staff, 
and  Chief  Justice  Chase,  mounted  on  horseback, 
reviewed  the  gallant  men  as  they  marched  on 
with  the  steady  tramp  of  veterans.  *  *  * 
On  Saturday,  as  we  marched  through  the  place 
to  the  position  assigned  us  on  Government  Street, 
the  streets  were  alive  with  people.  Men,  women 
and  children,  clad  in  the  gayest  attire,  were  out 
to  behold  one  of  the  grandest  military  pageants 
ever  witnessed  by  the  people  of  Alabama. 
Royal  Street,  in  the  region  of  the  Battle  House 
and  the  Custom  House,  was  a  perfect  jam.  I 
saw  quite  a  number  of  Confederate  officers  be- 
holding the  march  of  our  boys,  and  all  seemed 
in  the  best  of  humor. 

"  *  *  *  The  troops  remaining  were  of  the 
Third  Divison,  and  were  marched  into  the  city 
under  the  command  of  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  Grier, 
Colonel  of  the  77th  Illinois  Volunteers.  The 
General  is  a  tine  officer;  has  done  his  duty  in  this 
war.  His  Regiment  under  his  command  have 
made  for  themselves  a  glorious  record.  On 
many  a  well  fought  tield  have  they  carried  their 
colors  through  'shot  and  shell,' 'until  a  tri- 
umphant victory  has  crowned  their  efforts. 
Peoria  may  well  feel  proud  of  Brevet  Brig.  Gen. 
Grier  and  his  gallant  77th.  They  have  done 
honor  to  the  City  and  State.  Their  time  of 


352  THB   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

enlistment  will  soon  expire,  and  it  will  not  be 
long  before  they  are  on  their  way  to  their  homes. 
May  they  receive  the  hero's  welcome  they  have 
so  nobly  earned." 

And  this  from  the  Mobile  Daily  News : 

"  The  77th  Illinois  also  had  their  band  out,  and 
it  is  to  them  that  our  citizens  are  under  obliga- 
tions for  the  musical  treat  given  on  different 
occasions  during  the  past  ten  days  in  Bienville 
Square.  The  members  of  this  band  are  musi- 
cians in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  evince  a 
correct  knowledge  of  the  science  in  the  pieces 
performed  by  them." 

The  boys  were  now  looking  forward  to  the* 
time  when  they  would  be  permitted  to  leave  the 
service  and  return  to  their  homes.  An  extract 
from  a  letter  written  by  one  of  the  boys  about 
this  time,  will  show  the  spirit  which  animated 
them: 

"  Well, ,  I  could  tell  you  a  volume  of 

things  were  we  together,  but  paper  would  con- 
sume too  much  time.  Since  leaving  New  Orleans, 
we  have  gone  through  l  thick  and  thin,' 
through  mud  and  storm,  and  heat  and  battle  — 
have  won  laurels  and  given  antidotes  —  have 
marched  and  have  sailed — have  walked  dry 
shod,  and  have  gone  into  the  tender  'element' 
just  'knee  deep'  —  have  'seen  sights'  and  'phelt 
phunny,'  and  now  here  we  are,  'fat,  ragged  and 
saucy,'  waiting,  like  Micawber,  'for  something 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  353 

to  turn  up.'  There  is  a  big  breeze  —  a  stiff'  gale 
just  now  coming  this  way,  full  of  little  elfs,  tell- 
ing us  that  we  are  just  on  the  eve  of  being  mus- 
tered out,  and  we  begin  to  consider  ourselves  the 
'bully  boys  with  glass  eyes.'  The  Mustering 
Officer  has  ordered  the  Regiment  to  proceed  to 
work  to  complete  its  rolls,  etc.  Our  Colonel, 
now  Brevet  Brigadier  General,  D.  P.  Grier,  went 
to  New  Orleans  the  other  day,  saw  Gen.  P.  H. 
Sheridan,  and  succeeded  in  having  a  Special 
Order  issued  to  muster  out  the  77th.  There  was 
an  order  to  muster  out  all  troops  whose  term  of 
service  expires  prior  to  the  first  of  September, 
and  through  this  Special  Order  the  77th  will  go 
out.  There  are  only  two  Regiments  in  this  Divi- 
sion that  go  out  now,  the  96th  Ohio  and  the  77th 
Illinois.  The  96th  will  be  mustered  out  by  Mon- 
day evening,  and  the  77th  immediately  after. 
Is  n't  this  glorious  ?  The  old  77th  is  all  that  goes 
out.  The  130th  Illinois,  per  Special  Order,  will 
be  reorganized,  and  the  recruits  will  all  be  trans- 
ferred, probably  to  the  130th  Battallion.  The 
130th  feel  vexed  under  this  order.  They  had 
hoped  to  go  out,  but  are  now  destined,  perhaps, 
for  the  sandy,  barren,  homeless,  houseless,  de- 
serted, uncongenial,  uncompromising,  arid  coast 
of  Texas.  Been  there,  haven't  we?  Well,  I 
don't  want  any  Texas  in  mine." 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place,  in  this  connection, 
to  show  what  the  Government  at  Washington 


354  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

thought  of  the  operations  at  Mobile,  and  how 
the  services  of  the  army  in  the  southwest  were 
appreciated.  For  this  purpose,  the  following 
from  the  War  Department,  is  inserted : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ) 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  May  16,  1865.  j 

ORDERED  :  That  the  thanks  of  the  President 
and  the  War  Department  be,  and  they  are  here- 
with, presented  to  Major  General  Canby,  and  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  his  command,  for  their 
gallantry,  energy  and  successful  military  skill, 
in  the  siege  and  reduction  of  the  strongly  for- 
tified City  of  Mobile,  and  for  the  achievements 
that  have  rendered  their  campaign  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  and  important  of  the  war. 

By  order  of  the  President: 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Before  the  Regiment  is  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  it  may  be  well  to  bring  together,  in  one 
group,  all  the  principal  battles  and  sieges  in 
which  they  were  engaged.  Many  skirmishes  of 
minor  importance  are  not  included : 

Chickasaw  Bluffs,  Miss.,  Dec.  27,  1862,  to  Jan. 
1,  1863. 

Arkansas  Post,  Ark.,  Jan.  11,  1863. 
Magnolia  Hills,  Miss.,  May  1,  1863. 
Champion,  Hills,  Miss,  May  16,  1863. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  355 

Black  River  Bridge,  Miss.,  May  17, 1863. 

Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19  and  22,  1863. 

Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19  to  July  4,  '63. 

Siege  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  July  13-17,  1863. 

Mansfield,  La.,  April  8,  1864. 

Kane  River  La.,  April  23,  1864. 

Marksville,  La.,  May  16,  1864. 

Yellow  Bayou,  La.,  May  18,  1864. 

Fort  Gaines,  Ala.,  Aug.  4-8,  1864. 

Fort  Morgan,  Ala.,  Aug.  8-23, 1864. 

Spanish  Fort,  Ala.,  March  27  to  April  9,  1865. 

Blakely,  Ala.,  April  9,  1865. 

Whistler  Station,  Ala.,  April  13,  1865. 


CHAPTER  THE  TWENTIETH. 


"  ALL  PRESENT  OR  ACCOUNTED  FOR.' 


)S  A  preliminary  step  to  the  muster-out  of 
the  Seventy-Seventh  Regiment,  the  fol- 
lowing orders  were  issued  from  Corps  and 
Division  Headquarters : 

HEADQUABTERS,  THIRTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
GALVESTON  TEXAS,  June  23,  1865.     j 

Special  Orders,  No.  77. 

Extract. 

I.  The  organization  formerly  known  as  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  discontinued  January  23,  1865,  by 
Special  Orders,  No.  18,  Headquarters,  Defences 
of  New  Orleans,  is  hereby,  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  War  Department,  revived. 

All  men  of  the  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry  whose  term  of  service  will  not 
expire  on  or  before  September  1,  1865,  and  all 
officers  and  men  now  with  said  Regiment  who 
were  transferred  from  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  will  be 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  357 

formed  into  a  battallion  composed  of  companies 
of  maximum  strength.  The  officers  and  men 
will  be  transferred  on  the  rolls  required  by  Cir- 
cular No.  64,  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.,  August 
18, 1864. 

Brigadier  General  Benton,  Commanding  Third 
Division,  is  charged  with  the  execution  of  this 
order. 

$$$$#$$$$ 
By  order  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  GRANGER. 
F.  W.  EMERY, 

Major  and  A.  A.  G. 

HEADQUARTERS,  3D  DIVISION,  13TH  ARMY  CORPS,  1 
NEAR  MOBILE,  ALABAMA,  July  7,  1865.     J 

Special  Orders,  No.  79. 

Extract. 

III.  By  authority  from  superior  headquarters, 
all  enlisted  men  now  belonging  to  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteers,  whose  term  of  ser- 
vice does  not  expire  on  or  before  the  30th  day  of 
September  next,  and  all  officers  of  that  Regiment, 
who  formerly  belonged  to  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  Illinois  Volunteers,  are  transferred  to 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, revived,  Special  Orders,  No.  77,  dated 
Headquarters,  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  June  23, 
1865. 

The   organization   of  the   One   Hundred  and 


358  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Thirtieth  Illinois  Volunteers  will  be  composed  of 
the  officers  and  men  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
paragraph,  and  such  officers  of  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteers,  as  are  transferred  by 
Major  General  Sheridan,  by  Special  Orders,  No. 
25,  Extract  V,  dated  Headquarters  Military 
Division  of  the  Southwest,  July  3, 1865,  and  will 
be  organized  as  set  forth  in  the  schedule  hereto 
annexed,  and  made  a  part  of  this  order. 

By  order  of 

BRIG.  GEN.  W.  P.  BENTON. 
J.  D.  ROUSE, 

Captain  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Schedule  of  assignment  of  officers  transferred 
from  the  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, to  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry : 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONEL. 
John  B.  Eeid.     Original  130th  Illinois  Volunteers. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  AND  ADJUTANT. 
Edmund  S.  Dewey.     Original  130th  Illinois  Volunteers. 

ASSISTANT  SURGEON. 
William  F.  Sigler.     Original  130th  Illinois  Volunteers. 

COMPANY  OFFICERS. 

Jesse  R.  Johnson,  Captain  Co.  "  A."     OriginaJ  130th  Illi- 
nois Volunteers. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  359 

Wilson  J.  Neil,  Second  Lieut.  Co.  "  A."  Original  130th 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

George  C.  Kenyon,  First  Lieut.  Co.  "  B."  Transferred  by 
General  Sheridan  from  77th  Illinois  Volunteers. 

Jacob  W.  Wilkin,  Captain  Co.  "  C."  Original  130th  Illi- 
nois Volunteers. 

Joseph  F.  Parker,  First  Lieut.  Co.  "C."  Original  130th 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

Andrew  S.  Martin,  Second  Lieut.  Co.  "C."  Original  130th 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

Thomas  C.  Mathews,  First  Lieut.  Co.  "D."  Transferred 
by  General  Sheridan  from  77th  111.  Vol. 

William  C.  McGowan,  Second  Lieut.  Co.  "  D."  Transferred 
by  General  Sheridan  from  77th  111.  Vol. 

John  W.  Watts,  Captain  Co.  "  E."  Original  130th  Illi- 
nois Volunteers. 

John  W.  Paulson,  First  Lieut.  Co.  "  E."  Original  130th 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

John  D.  House,  Captain  Co.  "  F."  Transferred  by  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  from  77th  111,  Vol. 

William  C.  Harned,  First  Lieut.  Co.  "  F."  Original  130th 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

Charles  W.  Johnson,  Second  Lieut.  *Co.  "  F."  Original 
130th  Illinois  Volunteers. 

immediately  after  the  foregoing  orders  were 
issued,  the  necessary  steps  were  taken  to  effect 
the  transfers  indicated.  The  130th  Illinois,  .as 
reorganized,  was  composed  of  six  companies  of 
maximum  strength.  All  of  the  men  remaining 
of  the  original  130th,  and  the  recruits  belonging 
to  the  77th,  constituted  the  material  of  which 
these  companies  were  composed.  They  remained 
in  the  service  until  the  15th  of  August,  1865, 
when  they  were  mustered  out. 

The  following  statement  will  show  the  aggre- 


360  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

gate  strength  of  the  77th  from  first  to  last.     As 
originally  mustered  into  the  service  it  stood  thus  : 


Field  and  Staff. 9 

Company   "A," 89 

Company   "  B," 77 

Company   "  C," 95 

Company   "  D," 88 

Company   "  E," 86 


Company    "  F," 79 

Company   "  G," 87 

Company   "H," 99 

Company   "I," 83 

Company   "K,"  90 

Total...  ...882 


Charles  Bal lance  was  commissioned  Colonel,  but  not 

mustered 1 

John  S.  McCulloch  was  mustered  as  Chaplain  while 

the  Eegiment  was  in  the  service 1 

There  were  recruits  to  the  number  of. 138 

Also  unassigned  recruits 54 

Field  and  Staff  from  the  130th 1 

Non-commissioned  Staff  from  the  130th 1 

Line  officers  from  the  130th 11 

Enlisted  men  from  the  130th....                                       .  460 


Making  a  grand  total  of. 1549 

Perhaps  a  word  of  explanation  may  be  neces- 
sary in  regard  to  the  original  companies.  It  will 
be  remembered  by  the  members  of  the  Regiment, 
and  the  officers  especially,  that  on  the  first  of 
October,  1862,  several  of  the  enlisted  men  were 
transferred  from  one  company  to  another,  and 
the  muster-rolls  given  in  this  book,  as  well  as  the 
foregoing  figures,  show  the  condition  of  the  com- 
panies after  those  transfers  were  made.  This 
statement  is  deemed  necessary  to  account  for  any 
discrepancies  that  may  appear  between  the 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


361 


figures  here  given,  and  the  original  muster-rolls 
of  the  companies. 

For  the  sake  of  comparison  the  following  table 
is  given,  showing  the  condition  of  the  Regiment 
wjien  it  was  mustered  out  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  July 
10,  1865 : 


*te. 
f 

SQ 

<fc 

1 

Non-com.  Staff 

TOTALS. 

^ 

sq 

0 

q 

N 

% 

Cb 

fel 

S 

< 

a 

a 

a 

JS 

0 

JS 

o 

a 

a 

a 

<s 
O 

a 

M.O.  Julv  10,  1865  
"      June  17,  1865  

4 

5 

20 
16 
3 
3 

"4 
8 

19 
6 

7 
4 
3 
2 

43 
7 
3 
3 
2 
2 

36 
8 
3 
3 
1 
2 

29 
11 
1 
4 

"i 

11 

22 
3 
3 

"4 
8 

27 
6 
2 
6 
2 
2 

33 
8 
4 
5 
1 
2 

26 
7 
2 
1 
2 
2 
1 

32 
13 
6 
5 
1 
2 

285 
104 
35 
38 
15 
25 
11 
189 
110 
30 
6 
34 

"      at  different  dates 
Killed  in  battle  
Officers  resigned  
Transf  d  to  other  Reg'ts 
Promoted  in  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Discharged  

1 
1 

3 

2 

3 

17 
10 
3 
1 

24 
10 
2 

19 
12 
2 

"i 

10 
12 
7 
2 
4 

16 
13 
5 
1 
3 

21 
4 

"9 

15 
13 
4 
1 
8 

26 
14 
4 
1 

22 
14 

5 

16 
8 
3 

4 

Died  of   Disease  

"      "    Wounds  

"      "    Casualties  
Deserted  

... 

... 

TOTALS  

11 

8 

85 

77 

94 

88 

84 

79 

86 

98 

82 

90 

882 

Perhaps  it  will  be  interesting  to  the  members 
of  the  Seventy-Seventh  to  know  how  many  men 
were  furnished  by  the  different  towns  represented 
in  the  Regiment.  For  this  purpose  the  following 
table  is  prepared,  showing  at  a  glance  the  credit 
due  to  each  locality.  From  this  list  it  appears 
that  Elmwood  is  the  "  Banner  Town,"  while  Rose- 
field,  Peoria,  Magnolia,  Lacon,  Knoxville,  Brim- 
field  and  Cazenovia,  furnish  large  delegations : 
23 


362 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


Belle  Plain 13 

Bennington 1 

Brimfield 42 

Cazenovia 31 

Chillicothe 1 

Clayton 18 

Elba 4 

Elmwood 88 

Eugene... 4 

Fairview 1 

Galesburg 26 

Gilson 2 

Green 3 

Groveland 6 

Hennepin  3 

Henry 2 

Hollis 3 

Hopewell 8 

Jubilee 3 

Kickapoo 19 

Knoxville 43 

Lacon 60 

Limestone 6 

Linn 15 

Logan 25 

Long  Point 4 

Low  Point 5 

Magnolia*. 65 

Marshall  County 1 

Medina 3 

Metamora 19 

Millbrook  28 

Minonk  ..  ,44 


Monmouth 2 

Nebraska 12 

Oxford 1 

Palatine 1 

Panola 1 

Peoria 70 

Peoria  County 2 

Princeville 2 

Putnam 1 

Putnam  County 1 

Radnor 9 

Richland 11 

Richwoods 8 

Roanoke 1 

Roberts 3 

Robertson 1 

Rosefield 85 

Rutland 1 

Salem .*. 15 

Secor 1 

Selby 2 

Sinithville 2 

Somonauk 1 

Steuben 1 

Timber , 2 

Trivoli 2 

Truro 6 

Unknown 8 

Washburn 2 

Waldo 1 

Whitefield 3 

Woodford  County 24 

Yates  City 4 

Total...                    ..  882 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


363 


2n 


304 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


Sacrtb 
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ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


365 


DEATH   ROLL  OF  THE  SEVENTY -SEVENTH. 


KILLED  IN  BATTLE. 


FIELD  AND  STAFF. 
LYSANDEE  E.  WEBB,     .     .     LIEUTENANT  COLONEL. 


COMPANY  "A." 

JOHN  F.  CAMPBELL. 
SAMUEL  S.  DIVILBISS. 
JOHN  WILBEE. 

COMPANY  "B." 

EOBEET  IEWIN. 
JACOB  ELY. 
SAMUEL  GEABLE. 
PHILIP  NELLING. 

COMPANY  "  C." 

EOBEET  BENNETT. 
AUGUST  FAEVEE. 
WILLIAM  M.  KEEEICK. 

COMPANY  "D." 

BAENAED  CONNOLLY. 
JAMES  P.  ISOM. 
JOHN  A.  STOCKTON. 

COMPANY  "E." 

GUSTAVUS  HUFFMAN. 
JOHN  H.  McINTYEE. 
HAEEIS  PAEE. 
CHAELES  STEVENS. 


COMPANY  "F." 
FEANCIS  W.  FISHEE. 
CHAELES  NIXON. 
MAETIN  MASON. 

COMPANY  "  G." 

WILLIAM  W.  MILLEE. 
HITZ  BONEY  PETEES. 
JOAB  BAILY. 
ELEAZEE  BAENELL. 
HENEY  C.  BEASSFIELD. 
FEANCIS  O.  DIMMICK. 

COMPANY  "H." 
JOSEPH  C.  CLEGG. 
ISAAC  GEOVE. 
MILTON  G.  MAESHALL. 
WM.  S.  WOETHINGTON. 
FEEEMAN  P.  WILSON. 

COMPANY   "I." 
JOHN  HYNE. 

COMPANY  "K." 
J.  HENEY  BEOWN. 
JOSEPH  M.  KING. 
WILLIAM  MULVANY. 
PETEE  NELSON. 
SAMUEL  SHAEKEY. 


366 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


DIED  OF  WOUNDS. 


COMPANY  "A." 

SAMUEL  BOLT. 
JOHN  TOMPKINS. 
DANIEL  B.  TRENCH. 

COMPANY  "B." 

GEORGE  CHAMBERS. 
EDWARD  SWARGY. 

COMPANY    "C." 

JAMES  H.  DRENNEN. 
JAMES  DRAKE. 

COMPANY  "D." 

FREDERICK  B.  JONES. 
ANDREW  J.  BREWER. 
ALBERT  DE  LONG. 
PETER  DEGNER. 
MARTIN  HOAGLAND. 
ENESTES  J.  MEYERS. 
GEORGE  C.  MOORE. 


COMPANY  "E." 
R.  McKEE  DAVIS. 
LORENZO  W.  CORD. 
JOHN  B.  LOUGHMAN. 
EDW'D.  W.  LAUGHLIN. 
JOHN  W.  SMITH. 

COMPANY   "G." 
HUGH  SMART. 
DAVID  HART. 
ELIAS  MARTIN. 
CYRUS  H.  STOCKWELL. 

COMPANY  "  H." 

IRA  HOFNAGLE. 
MICHAEL  STEWART. 
EDWARD  L.  SUTTON. 
JOSEPH  STANDAKER. 

COMPANY  "K." 
WILLIAM  BECK. 
JOHN  CRONAN. 
EPHRAIM  R.  SHEPARD. 


DIED  OF  DISEASE. 


COMPANY  "A." 

ANDREW  J.  ABRAHAM. 
WILBER  F.  CHURCHILL 
ULYSSES  EDWARDS. 
ALEX.  R.  FISHER. 


PETER  HOLCOMB. 

W.  W.  LUDDINGTON. 

LEWIS  MATHER. 

S.  MATHER. 

JOHN    W.   OSTRANDER. 

JOSEPH  D.  WOODRUFF. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


367 


COMPANY   "B." 

HIRAM  COMPTON. 
MARION  KAYES. 
WILLIAM  DUGAN. 
A.  ALEXANDER. 
STEPHEN  COMPTON. 
HAMILTON  GURNEA. 
WILLIAM  P.  JOHNSON. 
HENRY  S.  McFARLAND. 
ABRAM  L.  POYER. 
EDWARD  SERGEANT. 

COMPANY  "C." 

GEORGE  A.  HART. 
JOSEPH  C.  BURSON. 
JOHN  B.  CARSON. 
ANDREW  DORSON. 
EDWARD  HALL. 
GEORGE  M.  LAY. 
REUBEN  PARNHAM. 
WILLIAM  RICHARDS. 
JAS.  W.  VANARSDALE. 
EDWARD  WALLACE. 
WILLIAM  W.  WHITE.     • 
JAMES  YELDON. 

COMPANY   "D." 

JAMES  LAUGHLIN. 
JAMES  M.  POWERS. 
UMPHRED  BICKEL. 
JACOB  BUCK. 
THOMP'N  CHRISESTON. 
GEORGE  ECHOLS. 
GEORGE  FAIRCHILDS. 
WILLIAM  P.  FEXN. 


FREDERICK  KRAFT. 
JOHN  MARTIN. 
SAMUEL  SAWYER. 
JOSEPH  WILLS. 

COMPANY  "E." 

WILLIAM  DAWSON. 
WILLIAM  I.  BROOKS. 
BENJAMIN  F.  ROBBINS. 
ANDREW  J.  DUNLAP. 
SAMUEL  G.  BUNTING. 
JOHN  COLLINS. 
DANIEL  COOK. 
JOHN  EVANS. 
FRANKLIN  W.  ESLOW. 
ALEXANDER  KINDER. 
JAMES  McSTRAVICK. 
PETER  M.  SHEPLER. 
DAVID  T.  WIGGINS. 

COMPANY  "P." 

FREDER'K   BOLANDER. 
JOHN  B.  MURRAY. 
JAMES  M.  WEST. 
HENRY  WALTON. 

COMPANY  "G." 

T.  MARTINDALE. 
ROBERT  COOPER. 
HENRY  BARNES. 
DAVID  G.  CAMPBELL. 
SAMUEL  W.  CAMPBELL. 
CHARLES  W.  CONE. 
JOHN  DAVISON. 
WILLIAM  EATON. 


368 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


JAMES  GILLENS. 
WM.  M.  LAMBERTSON. 
JOHN  A.  MENDALL. 
JOHN  SWAN. 
DANIEL  SHADE. 

COMPANY  "  H." 

LEWIS  G.  KEEDY. 
JAMES  P.  BROOKS. 
WILLIAM  D.  IRWIN. 
WILLIAM  D.  JONES. 
MILTON  B.  LINN. 
JAS.  H.   LONGFELLOW. 
THOMAS  P.  PEABODY. 
JAMES  P.  ROSS. 
EDWIN  E.  SAMPSON. 
WILLIAM  B.  SELF. 
DAVID  SMITH. 
ANDREW  SAMPSON. 
JAMES  TALBOT. 
LEONIDAS  M.  WILKES. 

COMPANY  "  I." 
GEORGE  L.  LUCAS. 


WILLIAM  M.  COX. 
GEORGE  DARNELL. 
ENOS  FRISBIE. 
JACOB  FISHER. 
ELI  HUMPHREY. 
BARNEY  HAND. 
ANTHONY  HAULER. 
BUTLER  K.  JONES. 
HENRY  KELLER. 
JAMES  C.  MOORE. 
DANIEL  D.  MOORE. 
JOHN  A.  RANDALL. 
WILLIAM  B.  TOLER. 

COMPANY  "  K." 

HARVEY  R.  BROCKET. 
RICHARD  M.  HOLT. 
HENRY  BEHRNS. 
JACOB  FRANK. 
JOHN  MERRITT. 
SAMUEL  B.  POWELL. 
JOHN  SHORDON. 
PERRY  S.  WALKER. 


DIED  OF  CASUALTIES. 


COMPANY  "A." 
HORATIO  F.  BACON. 

COMPANY  "D." 

DANIEL  CHAMBERS. 
JASON  M.  HUNTER. 


COMPANY  "E." 
HENRY  PAFF. 

COMPANY  "G." 
DELOS  ALDRICH. 

COMPANY  "  H." 
R.  MILTON  SMILEY. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


369 


If  the  doctrine  of  "the  survival  of  the  fittest" 
be  true,  those  members  of  the  Regiment  who 
survived  all  the  hardships  and  perils  of  the 
camp  and  the  field,  and  the  tortures  of  the 
prison-pen,  will  certainly  rank  among  the  "fit- 
test," and  they  are  entitled  to  a  special  record 
in  these  pages.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the 
prisoners  from  Camp  Ford,  who  were  mustered 
out  June  17,  1865  : 


COMPANY  "A." 

SERGEANTS. 

Henry  A.  Barber. 
Henry  Wilson. 

CORPORALS. 

Edward  F.  Green. 
Luther  G.  Russell. 
James  S.  Coe. 

PRIVATES. 

Isaac  Connor. 
Conrad  J.  Haller. 
Washington  Kroesen. 
James  M.  McGraw. 
William  Ott. 
Julius  Rambo. 
John  P.  Randall. 
Alfred  Russell. 
James  H.  Tarlton. 
Mason  M.  White. 
George  Woodmansee,  Jr. 


COMPANY  "  B." 

CORPORAL. 
David  Simpson. 

PRIVATES. 
John  Alexander. 
John  A.  Roberts. 
Augustus  Schermeman. 
William  A.  West. 
Allen  Woodring. 

COMPANY  "  C." 

SECOND   LIEUTENANT. 
Charles  F.  McCulloch. 

CORPORAL. 
Alfred  G.  Thorn. 

PRIVATES. 
Philo  W.  Gallop. 
Clinton  L.  Gennoway. 
William  D.  McCoy. 
John  Kennedy. 
Joseph  T.  Sims. 


370 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


COMPANY"D." 

CORPORAL. 
James  Scoon. 

PRIVATES. 

William  H.  Cassell. 
George  W.  De  Long. 
Samuel  Hadlock. 
Frederick  W.  Hake. 
Benjamin  K.  Jackson. 
Apollos  Laughlin. 
William  Wilson. 

COMPANY  "  E." 

SERGEANTS. 

Henry  E.  Slough. 
Leonard  T.  White. 

PRIVATES. 
John  Cook. 
Thomas  Forbes. 
Joseph  Fulton. 
Frederick  Gutting. 
John  S.  Hammerbacher. 
Jacob  Mankle. 
Joseph  T.  Mills. 
Robert  W.  Summers. 
Cheny  W.  Thurston. 

COMPANY"F." 

SERGEANTS. 
Lewis  Hamrick. 
George  Lawrence. 

CORPORALS. 

Ephraim  S.  Stoddard. 
William  Fowler. 


PRIVATES. 

John  Arrowsmith. 
William  Aid. 
Charles  Aid. 
Joseph  Buckman. 
Jesse  Crossen. 
Francis  Hatton. 
George  Lawrence. 
James  Miner. 
David  B.  Macey. 
Allen  F.  Mitchell. 
George  Norman. 
Marshall  Smiley. 
Herman  Seifert. 
Alonzo  D.  Stoddard. 
Thomas  Thurinan. 
John  Trump. 
William  H.  West. 
Richard  R.  Wilkinson. 

COMPANY  "  G." 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 
Henry  J.  Wyman. 

CORPORAL. 
Stephen  J.  Cook. 

PRIVATES. 

Daniel  Beck. 
William  Collister. 
Gaylord  Robinson. 

COMPANY"H." 

SERGEANT. 
Valentine  P.  Peabody. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


371 


PRIVATES. 

Leo  Julg. 
Hiram  Livingston. 
Alfred  B.  Poage. 
John  M.  Spandeau. 
Henry  Smith. 
John  M.  Smith. 
William  Swendeman. 

COMPANY"!.' 
CORPORALS. 

Rufus  Atherton. 
Eli  H.  Plowman. 

PRIVATES. 

Isaac  Brown. 
Asa  A.  Cook. 
Richard  Cowley. 


George  M.  Dixon. 
Alexander  A.  Thurman. 

COMPANY"K." 

SERGEANT. 
Servetus  Holt. 

PRIVATES. 

John  Greenhalch. 
John  Haynes. 
John  Ibeck. 
Lawrence  Ibeck. 
Jacob  Lafollet. 
Madison  Largent. 
James  M.  Moody. 
William  Race. 
Edward  E.  White. 
Joseph  Yerby. 


The  following  is  the  Roll  of  the  Regiment  as 
mustered  out  July  10,  1865.  The  officers  and 
non-commissioned  officers  marked  with  a  star  (*) 
held  the  original  appointment.  The  others  were 
promoted  at  different  times  while  in  the  service. 
The  Rev.  J.  S.  McCulloch  is  included  in  this  roll, 
as  Chaplain,  although  not  a  member  of  the  Regi- 
ment at  first : 


*Colonel  and  Brevet  Brigadier  General,  DAVID  P.  GBIER. 

ADJUTANT. 
Henry  P.  Ay  res. 

SURGEON. 


*Charles  Winnie. 


ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 
*John  Stoner. 


CHAPLAIN. 
John  S.  McCulloch. 


372 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


NON-COM'D  STAFF. 

SERGEANT   MAJOR. 
Charles  H.  Arms. 
COMMISSARY   SERGEANT. 
William  H.  Bennett. 

HOSPITAL  STEWART. 

Joel  Allen. 

PRINCIPAL  MUSICIANS. 
John  W.  Carroll. 
Lemon  H.  Wiley. 

COMPANY  "A." 

CAPTAIN. 
Gardner  G.  Stearns. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 
Merritt  M.  Clark. 

SERGEANTS. 

*William  H.  Wilcox. 
George  D.  Butler. 

CORPORALS. 

*Lyman  West. 
*Charles  G.  Field. 
Henry  Varley. 

WAGONER. 
*William  Stiteler. 

PRIVATES. 

Frank  W.  Ash. 
John  C.  Burlingame. 
James  Divert. 


James  H.  Divilbiss. 
Francis  G.  Fuller. 
Ira  K.  Hall. 
E.  Winthrop  Jenny. 
Daniel  Lockbaum. 
Charles  W.  Sanburn. 
Lewis  J.  Swan. 
A.  D.  Witherell. 
John  L.  Woolsey. 

COMPANY  "B." 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 
Orange  Parrott. 

CORPORALS. 

*Thomas  G.  Harris. 
Samuel  Vanhorn. 

MUSICIANS. 
*Silas  Norris. 
*Rice  Dunbar. 

PRIVATES. 

John  Brown. 
William  G.  Bowman. 
William  W.  Blakeslee. 
Charles  Henthorne. 
William  W.  Head. 
James  King. 
John  E.  McComber. 
Roger  Ong. 
Jonathan  Poyer. 
John  Ruley. 
James  M.  Roberts. 
Jacob  Van  Winkle. 
John  Walcott. 
James  Weir. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


373 


COMPANY  "  C." 

SERGEANTS. 

John  P.  Wiley. 
*Jehu  Buckingham. 
Joseph  A.  Hutchinson. 

CORPORALS. 

*John  Sewell. 
*  Albert  Shepherd. 
*James  P.  Black. 
*Thomas  S.  Patton. 
J.  William  Avery.    • 

MUSICIAN. 
*Enoch  Buckingham. 

WAGONER. 
*Moses  Carles. 

PRIVATES. 
Samuel  T.  Acres. 
Alfred  M.  Blackman. 
James  Crow. 
Minor  Calvert. 
W.  F.  Carson. 
John  T.  Davis. 
Dennis  Duff. 
Charles  C.  Enslow. 
Joseph  Fisher. 
Isaiah  Fisher. 
Samuel  M.  Hart. 
A.  Warren  Howard. 
James  A.  Lindsay. 
John  M.  McCormick. 
Edwin  R.  Mann. 
James  R.  McCracken. 
Thomas  H.  McCulloch. 


Joshua  W.  McCoy. 
Daniel  H.  Norris. 
John  A.  Pinkerton. 
William  M.  Pinkerton. 
Bonaparte  Palmer. 
Andrew  Rufing. 
Martin  V.  Robbins. 
Joseph  R.  Sims. 
William  Sims. 
William  Stevenson. 
William  Stephenson. 
Merrick  J.  Wald. 
George  M.  Woodburn. 
William  M.  Wright. 
William  Wiley. 
James  H.  Wedley. 

COMPANY   "D." 

CAPTAIN. 
*Robert  H.  Brock. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 
John  M.  Shields. 

SERGEANTS. 
*Benjamin  F.  Thomas. 
*  James  T.  Bender. 
* Jacob  C.  Batrum. 

CORPORALS. 
*Moroni  Owens. 
*Thomas  Frail. 
*William  A.  Fisher. 
John  H.  Benson. 
John  T.  Durham. 

MUSICIAN. 
*John  H.  Barney. 


874 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


WAGONER. 

*John  McWhinney. 

PRIVATES. 

John  Blackmore. 
Ithamar  Baker. 
Horace  Burlingame. 
Alonzo  J.  Brewer. 
Rufus  A.  Chambers. 
Andrew  Duffey. 
Martin  V.  Etheridge. 
Henry  Ebersold. 
John  Harigan. 
William  Laidlon. 
John  McGowan. 
Griffith  Moyer. 
Warren  D.  Meyers. 
Peter  Overmier. 
Wm.  R.  Owens. 
William  Post. 
Richard  Shaw. 
Jesse  Sawyer. 
David  B.  Stockton. 
John  Scoon. 
Cornelius  Twinam. 
Joseph  Tronier. 
John  Torrence. 
John  D.  Winters. 

COMPANY  "  E." 

CAPTAIN. 
*Edwin  Stevens. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 
*Samuel  J.  Smith. 


SERGEANTS. 

*  James  Parr. 
George  F.  Cord. 
Ashford  H.  Magee. 

CORPORAL. 
Silas  W.  Fisher. 

WAGONER. 
*Lewis  Z.  Rench. 

PRIVATES. 

Henry  M.  Brooks. 
John  Buttrick. 
James  Barrigan. 
Simeon  P.  Bower. 
John  C.  Bush. 
Isaac  S.  Dawson. 
Joseph  N.  Dawson. 
John  Daily. 
John  S.  French. 
Joseph  Letterman. 
William  H.  Magee. 
Francis  M.  McDermott. 
Thomas  J.  Nixon. 
Samuel  Perry. 
Samuel  A.  Rathbun. 
Asa  B.  Reeves. 
Richard  W.  Ratcliff. 
Otis  B.  Smith. 
Cosmer  A.  Stevenson. 
James  M.  Sweet. 
Albert  Sutton. 
Smith  E.  Shepler. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


375 


COMPANY  "  P." 

CAPTAIN. 
Jatnes  K.  Secord. 

SERGEANTS. 

*James  A.  Hammers. 
James  T.  Martin. 

CORPORAL. 
Jacob  Rediger. 

PRIVATES. 

George  Attick. 
Charles  W.  Carter. 
James  F.  Kent. 
Sylvester  Kenyon. 
Hamilton  Lamson. 
Jonah  Stone. 
Monterville  Stone. 

COMPANY"G." 

SERGEANTS. 

William  G.  Huey. 
Adrian  R.  Aten. 
Moses  E.  Burt. 

CORPORALS. 

Franklin  Belford. 
Joseph  Tanner. 
Francis  W.  Griswold. 

MUSICIAN. 
*Wesley  R.  Andrews. 

WAGONER. 
*Jacob  Alderdice. 


PRIVATES. 

David  Baronett. 
William  Curran. 
Russell  Darby. 
Austin  M.  Dustin. 
Joseph  D.  Ensley. 
Isaac  Ensley. 
Joseph  H.  Fetters. 
James  Fleming. 
Littleton  A.  German. 
Thomas  Hatsell. 
Frederick  R.  Johnson. 
William  Lawson. 
William  McComb. 
David  F.  Ogden. 
Jesse  J.  Purcell. 
David  W.  Shinmell. 
Joseph  Shull. 
John  Shull. 
Joseph  W.  Slocum. 

COMPANY  "  H." 

CAPTAIN. 
Milgrove  B.  Parmeter. 

SERGEANTS. 

Joseph  McSparren. 
David  L.  Murdock. 
William  H.  Bocock. 

CORPORALS. 

*Ezra  D.  Davidson. 
Casey  B.  James. 

MUSICIAN. 
*Reuben  W.  Davison. 


376 


THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 


PRIVATES. 

MUSICIAN. 

John  Arnett. 

*  Jacob  H.  Snyder. 

William  H.  Addis. 

Alfred  C.  Bell. 

PRIVATES. 

Thomas  R.  Clark. 

Lewis  D.  Anderson. 

Charles  L.  Davis. 

Lewis  J.  Bevans. 

Robert  Denby. 

James  D.  Caldwell. 

Benjamin  F.  Fisher. 

George  T.  Finch. 

John  Farrell. 

Lemuel  Hand. 

John  W.  Howell. 

John  C.  Hill. 

Richard  Huxtable. 

Homer  H.  Higbie. 

George  W.  James. 

Benedict  M.  S.  Homer. 

Joshua  Ketchum. 

William  W.  Jacobs. 

Conrad  Kohl. 

John  M.  Jordan. 

Stephen  W.  Maring. 

Joseph  M.  Lee. 

Joseph  Miller. 

George  W.  McCann. 

Frederick  Mehlhorn. 

Garrett  D.  Pence. 

John  P.  McCoy. 

William  H.  Richardson. 

Enoch  R.  Nye. 

Scott  H.  Rockenfield. 

Lorenzo  D.  Philips. 

Cleves  S.  Rockenfield. 

Fred  Presinger. 

Frank  A.  Redfield. 

Norman  D.  Richards. 

Lyman  H.  Smith. 

Weldon  R.  Smiley. 

Myron  C.  Smith. 

Israel  D.  Trowbridge. 

Jacob  D.  Wasson. 

John  D.  Vance. 

COMPANY  "  K." 

John  W.  Vanarsdale. 

Collins  P.  Waterman. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 

Sylvester  S.  Edwards. 

COMPANY  "  I." 

SERGEANT. 

SERGEANTS. 

*John  Yinger. 

*Robert  J.  Biggs. 

CORPORALS. 

Abraham  Hull. 

*Francis  Shorder. 

CORPORALS. 

*Andrew  J.  Vleet. 

*John  McMullen. 

*Oswall  B.  Green. 

*Alfred  B.  Reed. 

Henry  S.  Morris. 

Austin  C.  Aten.                          Austin  E.  Walker. 

ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


377 


PRIVATES. 
George  W.  Awl. 
Eli  Brown. 
John  Camp.  • 
William  Clayton. 
Henry  Coulson. 
Enlee  E.  Coulson. 
William  Donnelly. 
John  A.  Enders. 
George  Edwards. 
Frederick  Gilson. 
Auxilius  Gurtern. 
Adam  Harding. 


Warner  Hollinsworth. 
Peter  Hoffman. 
Charles  Kingsley. 
Samuel  Kirkman. 
John  Lafollett. 
Henry  Largent. 
Richard  Morris. 
Henry  Perry. 
John  Pritchard. 
Lyman  T.  Rench. 
Thomas  Sleeth. 
Samuel  J.  Sherwood. 
John  Wholstenholm. 


^ x  ii J 


24 


CHAPTER  THE  TWENTY- FIRST. 


"  TATTOO.' 


THREE  o'clock  P.M.,  July  10,  1865,  the 
Seventy-Seventh  was  mustered  out,  and 
the  boys  were  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
"  Brevet  citizens,"  as  they  termed  it.  The  dis- 
charge papers  were  all  made  out  and  signed,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  Captain  J.  K.  Secord  until 
the  final  muster  out  and  payment  at  Springfield, 
Illinois.  At  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  12th, 
the  Regiment  left  camp  and  marched  to  the 
city.  They  went  on  board  the  "  White  Cloud," 
a  steamer  plying  between  Mobile  and  New  Or- 
leans, via  Lake  Pontchartrain.  There  wTere 
about  1,300  soldiers  on  the  vessel,  belonging  to 
the  77th  Illinois,  91st  Illinois  and  19th  Iowa. 
An  effort  was  made  to  ship  500  horses  and  mules 
along  with  the  troops.  The  19th  Iowa  boys  — 
some  of  whom  were  partially  intoxicated  —  at 
once  objected  to  this  proceeding,  and  the  mules 
were  forced  oft'  the  boat.  There  were  some  in 
the  77th  and  91st  who  stood  by  the  Iowa  boys. 
The  officers  endeavored  to  maintain  order,  but 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  379 

in  vain.  They  went  to  see  Gen.  Kilby  Smith, 
the  Commandant  of  the  Post,  but  he  could  effect 
nothing.  They  were  ordered  to  allow  the  mules 
on  board.  Still  the  boys  opposed,  and  a  com- 
pany of  provost  guards  was  sent  with  arms  to 
quell  the  mutiny.  The  regiments  then  made 
common  cause,  flew  to  arms  and  compelled  the 
guards  to  withdraw.  The  officer  who  undertook 
to  put  the  mules  on  board  was  driven  off  the 
boat,  and  twice  the  mules  were  thrown  oft'.  As 
a  last  resort,  Colonel  Bruce  marched  his  Regi- 
ment—  the  19th  Iowa  —  ashore  and  returned  to 
camp  to  await  another  vessel.  The  mules  and 
horses  were  then  loaded,  the  bell  rang,  the  band 
played  "  Get  out  of  the  Wilderness,"  and  soon 
the  city  of  Mobile  was  left  behind  as  they 
pushed  for  the  open  sea.  Their  next  "  objective 
point"  was  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  then  PEORIA. 
That  night  the  storm  came  down  upon  them 
with  relentless  fury.  The  vessel  rolled  and  tossed 
on  the  foaming  billows.  The  "  hog  chains  "  con- 
necting the  vessel  fore  and  aft  to  prevent  the 
ends  from  dipping,  broke,  and  the  vessel  opened 
just  in  front  of  the  cabin  "  wide  enough  for  a 
man  to  crawl  through."  In  the  light  of  present 
events,  the  mutiny  of  the  day  before  seemed 
like  a  providential  occurrence.  Had  the  five 
hundred  men  of  the  19th  Iowa  been  on  board, 
the  probability  is  that  the  additional  weight 
would  have  insured  the  destruction  of  all.  As 


380  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

it  was,  the  danger  was  great.  Like  Paul,  they 
"  cast  anchor  and  prayed  for  the  day."  About 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  storm  abated, 
the  sea  became  calm,  they  weighed  anchor  and 
proceeded  on  their  way.  They  crossed  Lake 
Pontchartrain  and  at  four  o'clock  P.M.  were  on 
the  levee  at  New  Orleans,  and  immediately  went 
on  board  the  steamer  "  Lady  Franklin,"  bound 
for  up  the  river. 

Before  leaving  the  Crescent  City  for  the  last 
time  the  boys  supplied  themselves  with  reading 
matter  to  while  away  the  tedious  days  that  must 
elapse  before  their  arrival  at  Cairo,  111.  They 
also  purchased  a  liberal  supply  of  Southern 
keepsakes  to  carry  home  with  them,  such  as 
guinea-pigs,  mocking-birds,  etc.  At  twelve 
o'clock  M.,  July  14th,  they  left  the  landing,  and 
soon  after,  the  city  of  New  Orleans  disappeared 
in  the  distance.  The  "  Nick  Longworth  "  passed 
them,  having  the  91st  Illinois  on  board.  Col. 
Day  invited  the  Seventy-Seventh  to  accompany 
his  Regiment  on  their  boat.  Captain  Brock, 
who  was  in  command  of  the  Seventy-Seventh, 
politely  declined  the  invitation,  believing  the 
boys  could  enjoy  their  homeward  picnic  better 
by  themselves. 

The  days  came  and  went  with  monotonous 
regularity.  Baton  Rouge,  Port  Hudson,  Grand 
Gulf  and  other  points  of  historic  interest  were 
passed  in  succession.  On  the  morning  of  July 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  381 

17th  they  reached  Vicksburg.  Here  they  landed 
and  took  on  a  thousand  bushels  of  coal.  The 
boys  of  the  Regiment  vountarily  assisted  in  this 
work  in  order  to  hasten  their  departure.  In  the 
afternoon  they  passed  Young's  Point,  the  burial 
ground  of  so  many  of  their  comrades. 

On  either  bank  of  the  river  as  they  passed 
along,  they  saw  the  ruin  and  desolation  caused 
by  the  war.  The  thunders  of  artillery  had 
ceased,  but  the  ruins  remained.  Homes,  which, 
in  the  ante-bellum  days  had  sheltered  prosperous 
and  happy  families,  were  now  deserted  and  des- 
olate. Here  and  there  they  could  see  a  solitary 
wanderer  among  the  ruins — some  one  who  had 
just  returned  from  the  army  of  the  "Lost 
Cause." 

On  the  22d  of  July  they  landed  at  Cairo,  111., 
and  once  more  after  an  absence  of  nearly  three 
years  they  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  their  own  State 
— the  State  which  had  sent  them  forth  to  battle, 
and  now  waited  to  welcome  their  return.  They 
felt  that  they  were  again  in  "God's  country"  — 
that  they  had  left  the  dark  lagoons  and  malarial 
swamps  of  the  South  far  behind,  and  that  now 
the  healthy  breezes  of  the  Prairie  State  would 
infuse  new  life  and  vigor  into  their  wasted  con- 
stitutions. They  had  gone  to  the  front  with 
nearly  .nine  hundred  men.  They  returned  with 
less  than  three  hundred.  They  had  buried  their 
comrades  all  along  the  line  of  march,  from  Cov- 


382  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

ington,  Ky.,  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  from  New  Or- 
leans to  Camp  Ford.  The  remnant  of  the  Regi- 
ment marched  ashore  at  Cairo  with  feelings  of 
thankfulness  and  of  sorrow — thankfulness  that 
they  were  permitted  to  return,  and  sorrow  for 
the  loss  of  so  many  brave  men. 

While  at  Memphis,  Captain  Brock  had  tele- 
graphed to  Cairo  for  transportation  from  that 
point  to  Springfield,  so  that  no  delay  was  occa- 
sioned. Soon  after  landing  they  boarded  the 
cars  and  were  rapidly  carried  northward  to  their 
destination.  They  arrived  in  Springfield  on  the 
23d.  Captain  Brock  at  once  reported  to  head- 
quarters and  was  ordered  to  Camp  Butler,  five 
miles  from  the  city.  Here  the  Regiment  went 
into  camp  to  await  final  muster  out  and  pay- 
ment. 

"  They  were  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  and  in  an  open 
field,  without  food  or  camp,  they  passed,  in  the 
capital  city  of  their  native  State,  as  uncomfortable  a 
night  as  they  had  known  during  the  service." 

But,  thanks  to  the  foresight  of  General  Grier, 
who  had  gone  home  in  advance  of  the  Regiment 
to  prepare  the  way  for  their  prompt  payment 
and  discharge,  their  stay  at  Camp  Butler  was 
brief.  On  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  General 
made  his  appearance  at  the  camp  and  made  a 
speech  to  the  boys,  in  which  he  asked  them  if 
they  were  willing  to  go  to  Peoria,  as  the  ladies 
of  that  city  were  anxious  to  give  them  an  appro- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  383 

priate  reception.  It  was  almost  unanimously 
agreed  to  go.  Most  of  companies  "  B "  and 
"  H,"  however,  declined  the  invitation,  as  it  was 
too  much  out  of  their  line  of  travel  to  their 
homes. 

On  the  evening  of  July  27th  the  boys  had  a 
sort  of  farewell  jollification.  They  procured  an 
abundance  of  candles  and  put  them  on  poles,  in 
the  trees,  etc.,  and  thus  illuminated  the  camp. 
Then  speeches  were  in  demand.  Sergeant 
David  L.  Murdock,  of  Company  "H,"  and 
Jacob  H.  Snyder,  Musician  of  Company  "  I,"  were 
loudly  called  for,  and  responded  in  "  thoughts 
that  breathe  and  words  that  burn." 

This  was  their  last  night  in  camp  —  the  last 
time  they  would  all  be  together,  and  they  made 
good  use  of  it.  On  the  morrow  separations 
would  take  place  —  some  final,  some  only  tem- 
porary. They  had  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder 
for  many  months,  and  now  they  were  about  to 
separate,  each  to  pursue  some  useful  avocation 
in  civil  life. 

The  next  morning  they  boarded  the  cars  and 
went  to  the  city.  They  marched  at  once  to  the 
Paymaster's  office,  and  that  gentleman  counted 
out  the  cash  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  dis- 
charge papers  were  distributed,  and  the  boys 
passed  from  "Brevet  citizens"  to  citizens  of  full 
rank.  Their  next  movement  was  to  the  clothing 


384  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

stores,  and  here  they  doffed  the  regimental  blue 
and  donned  the  citizen's  suit. 

As  they  were  now  ready  for  the  last  act  in 
their  military  history,  the  following  dispatch  was 
sent  to  Peoria : 

MRS.  A.  G.  CURTENIUS, 

President  Woman's  National  League : 

The  Seventy-Seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teers, two  hundred  strong,  will  arrive  in  Peoria 
on  Saturday  morning.  D.  P.  GRIER, 

Brig.  Gen.  Commanding. 


CHAPTER  THE  TWENTY- SECOND. 


"TAPS.' 


EORIA  !    October  4,  1862.    July  29,  1865. 

Uml 

Departure  and  return.  At  7  o'clock  in 
the  morning  they  reached  the  Central 
City,  and  at  once  marched  to  Rouse's  Hall,  where 
the  "  Woman's  National  League  "  had  prepared 
a  good  breakfast,  a  right  royal  greeting  to 
stomachs  so  long  inured  to  "  hard  tack  and  salt 
pork."  An  appropriate  reception  speech  was 
made,  and  the  boys  partook  of  that  bountiful 
repast.  In  doing  so,  they  remembered  the  many 
kindnesses  they  had  received  from  the  devoted 
women  who  waited  upon  them  that  morning. 
"The  glory  of  their  deeds,  while  not  written, 
like  ours,  upon  the  bunting  that  floats  above  us, 
are  more  surely  written  in  the  hearts  and  memo- 
ries of  the  boys,  who,  far  away  from  kith  and 
kin,  strangers  in  a  strange  land,  enjoyed  their 
ministrations." 

Let  the  public  prints  of  July  31,  1865,  tell  the 
story  of  their  welcome  home : 

"  The  reception  of  this  Regiment  (the  77th)  on 


386  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

Saturday  last,  given  by  the  Ladies'  League  to  the 
returning  heroes,  was  one  of  the  best  conducted 
affairs  our  people  ever  saw.  The  history  of  the 
Regiment  will  be  found  in  another  column.  It 
was  understood  that  the  boys  would  arrive  on 
the  morning  train  at  4  o'clock.  The  ladies  re- 
paired to  the  Hall  and  were  ready  to  receive 
them  at  that  hour.  But  owing  to  the  road  being 
out  of  repair,  caused  by  the  heavy  rains,  they 
did  not  arrive  until  8  o'clock.  Notwithstanding 
this  delay,  to .  their  honor  be  it  said,  not  one  of 
the  ladies  left  her  post.  The  ringing  of  the 
bell  of  the  Congregational  Church,  announced 
their,  arrival  to  the  citizens,  who  flocked  to 
Rouse's  Hall  to  receive  them. 

"  From  the  cars,  the  boys,  two  hundred  and 
sixty  strong,  marched  to  the  Hall  preceded  by 
the  regimental  band,  and  were  welcomed  in 
behalf  of  the  League,  by  the  Hon.  W.  Cockle  in 
a  brief  address.  Three  cheers  for  the  soldiers 
were  given  by  the  audience,  which  was  responded 
to  by  the  soldiers  at  the  instance  of  Gen.  Grier. 
After  invoking  the  Divine  blessing  by  the  Chap- 
lain, the  boys  sat  down  to  breakfast.  The  tables 
were  appropriately  and  beautifully  decked  with 
flowers,  and  loaded  with  the  choicest  viands. 
The  cellars  and  markets  of  the  city  had  been 
ransacked  for  dainties,  and  the  table  waited  on 
by  beauty,  and  served  up  as  only  the  Ladies' 
Union  League  can  serve  a  meal,  was  one  that 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  387 

only  a  volunteer  was  worthy  to  sit  down  at. 
The  boys  showed  their  appreciation  of  its  deli- 
cacies by  a  prolonged  assault  worthy  of  veterans. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  repast  the  crowd  ad- 
journed to  the  Court  House  yard  to  witness  the 
closing  exercises.  The  old  Hag  that  the  ladies 
had  given  to  the  Regiment  three  years  ago,  that, 
shot  riddled  and  blood-stained,  had  been  carried 
through  all  the  battles  in  which  they  had  been 
engaged,  was  now  to  be  given  back  to  its  donors 
as  the  only  ones  fit  to  keep  it  in  custody.  Gen. 
Grier  introduced  Major  Stevens,  who  made  the 
presentation  speech.  He  alluded  to  the  different 
condition  of  the  country  now,  and  when  the  flag 
was  given  to  them.  He  paid  an  eloquent  tribute 
to  the  fallen  Col.  Webb  and  the  brave  men  who 
perished  with  him.  Now  that  the  boys  had 
accomplished  that  which  they  were  sent  to  do, 
he  in  behalf  of  the  Regiment,  would  return  them 
the  flag,  stained  and  torn,  it  was  true,  but  not  a 
thread  tarnished  or  sullied  by  dishonor. 

"  He  was  followed  by  Hon.  Alex.  McCoy,  who 
paid  a  well  received  compliment  to  the  Ladies' 
League,  saying  that  not  to  the  old  men  or  to  the 
young  men  of  Peoria  was  the  honor  due,  but  to 
the  members  of  this  noble  organization,  who  had 
worked  early  and  late  for  four  long,  weary  years 
to  sustain  our  soldiers  in  the  field.  At  the  close  of 
the  honorable  gentleman's  remarks,  the  band  of 
the  77th  played  several  patriotic  airs  and  were 


388  THE   SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

applauded  by  the  audience.  Chaplain  McCulloch 
then  followed  in  a  speech  in  which  he  advised 
the  boys  to  have  an  eye  on  the  men  at  home  who 
had  declared  the  war  to  be  a  failure,  and  who 
had  kept  up  'a  tire  in  the  rear'  at  home.  No 
man  who  had  advocated  such  sentiments  as  these 
ought  to  be  tolerated  in  office,  and  he  hoped  that 
the  boys  present  would  never  vote  for  such  a  man. 

"  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Thos.  McCulloch  in 
an  eloquent  speech,  and  the  exercises  closed. 

"  The  reception  reflects  the  greatest  credit  upon 
the  getters-up  of  the  affair.  The  appearance  of 
the  soldiers  was  exceedingly  fine.  One  could 
not  help  contrasting  their  open,  manly,  intellect- 
ual countenances  and  modest  bearing,  with  the 
vacant,  listless  faces  which  Confederate  soldiers 
present,  and  thinking  how  great  the  difference 
between  such  a  reception  as  this,  and  the  one  that 
the  Southern  rebel  meets  on  his  return. 

"Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  the  band 
of  the  regiment.  It  was  the  universally  ex- 
pressed opinion  of  all  present  that  it  is  the  best 
band  in  the  State.  It  seems  a  pity  that  it  should 
disband  after  attaining  such  proficiency.  An 
effort,  we  understand,  is  making  to  retain  them 
in  the  city.  We  hope  it  will  be  successful.  To 
show  that  we  are  not  alone  in  our  opinien,  we 
subjoin  the  following  remarks  from  the  Spring- 
field Journal  of  Saturday : 

"'  It  is  but  just  to  say,  in  this  connection,  that 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  389 

the  band  of  the  Seventy-Seventh  Regiment  has 
the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  in  the 
service;  and  from  their  fine  performances  yester- 
day, we  have  no  doubt  they  are  entitled  to  the 
honorable  distinction.  The  band  consists  of 
fourteen  performers,  under  the  leadership  of  Mr. 
Wiley,  and  what  is  remarkable,  none  of  them, 
except  the  leader,  having  any  musical  experi- 
ence until  they  entered  the  service.  Their  in- 
struments are  of  the  finest  description,  and  cost 
over  one  thousand  dollars.  We  congratulate 
the  leader  on  his  successful  efforts  in  forming  so 
fine  a  military  band.' 

"  The  boys  were  furnished  with  dinner  at  the 
Central  House.  Most  of  them  went  out  on  the 
afternoon  train.  Generally  the  utmost  good 
order  prevailed.  A  few,  rejoicing  in  the  pros- 
pect of  getting  home,  indulged  in  too  deep  pota- 
tions; but  these  were  exceptions,  and  not  by  any 
means  the  rule." 

Many  of  the  prisoners  of  war  who  had  re- 
turned home  only  a  few  days  before  the  main 
body  of  the  Regiment,  were  present  to  enjoy  the 
hospitality  of  Peoria,  and  formed  a  part  of  the 
happy  throng  on  that  occasion. 

Another  allusion  to  the  Regimental  Band, 
in  the  Transcript,  will  not  be  out  of  place. 

"  The  serenades  last  evening  were  worthy  of 
the  Seventy-Seventh  Band.  It  was  fitting  that 
their  last  act  should  be  a  tribute  of  respect  to 


390  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

the  widow  of  their  fallen  Colonel,  an  acknowl- 
edgement of  grateful  thanks  to  the  Woman's 
National  League,  through  its  President,  and  a 
good-bye  to  their  General.  At  Mrs.  Webb's  the 
party  were  received  with  welcome.  Refresh- 
ments were  handed  them.  They  played  exceed- 
ingly well.  A  large  crowd  gathered  and  saluted 
them  with  cheers.  At  Mrs.  Curtenius's,  the 
house,  yard  and  sidewalk  were  filled  by  expect- 
ants long  before  the  band  made  its  appearance. 

"  They  were  enthusiastically  received.  After 
playing  an  hour  they  were  treated  to  a  splendid 
collation.  It  was  one  of  the  pleasantest  re- 
unions we  ever  attended;  the  shower*  in  the 
distance  cooled  the  air;  the  crowd,  animated  by 
the  music,  were  sociable  and  quiet.  Some  five 
hundred  people  were  present.  Everything  passed 
off  very  pleasantly.  The  band  then  marched  to 
General  Grier's,  where  they  again  played.  They 
were  received  in  a  very  pleasant  and  happy 
manner.  The  whole  thing  was  a  success.  To- 
day the  boys  go  to  Elmwood  to  attend  a  recep- 
tion. They  there  finally  disband.  Success  to 
them  in  every  walk  of  life." 

As  the  boys  separated  at  Peoria,  one  of  them 
wrote  as  follows : 

"After  the  morning  speeches  the  boys  dis- 
banded; and  the  old  Seventy-Seventh,  except  as 
a  factor  of  the  past  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try's struggle,  ceased  to  exist.  For  the  deeds  of 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  391 

her  history,  the  war  records  must  tell  the  story. 
We  have  written  the  last  page,  for  our  battles 
are  all  fought  and  our  marches  are  all  ended.  As 
the  years  come  apace,  and  in  our  declining 
years,  if  we  should  meet  again  in  some  bright  day 
of  reunion,  though  the  furrows  may  mark  our 
brows,  and  the  hair  be  grey,  and  the  eyes  lose 
some  of  their  lustre,  yet  the  recalling  of  these 
eventful -years  will  quicken  the  blood  in  its  con- 
duits and  make  us  feel  the  spirit  of  youth's 
ambition  again.  We  now  go  to  our  homes  and  to 
our  industries,  once  more  settling  down  as  good 
citizens  of  a  country  we  feel  proud  to  call  our 
own;  a  country  purchased  with  sacrifices  that 
are  colored  with  the  purple  of  noble  lives.  And 
may  God  grant  that  from  henceforth,  from  the 
Lakes  to  the  Gulf,  and  from  Ocean  to  Ocean,  it 
may  be  OUR  COUNTRY,  one  and  indivisible,  now  and 
forerer." 

There  is  an  unwritten  record  in  the  life  of 
every  soldier — a  record  all  the  more  interesting 
because  unwritten  —  a  record  of  heroic  deeds,  of 
patient  suffering,  of  toil  and  privation,  of  watch- 
fulness and  weariness,  of  exposure  and  danger, 
which,  if  fully  known  and  realized,  would  com- 
mand the  enthusiastic  plaudits  of  the  world.  It 
is  not  alone  the  gilded  trappings  of  official  place, 
nor  the  honored  blade  which  flashes  in  the  sun- 
light, that  gains  our  battles  and  adorns  with  glo- 
rious achievements,  our  historic  page.  Military 


392  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

discipline  and  authority,  it  is  true,  repose  in  the 
bullion  of  shoulder-straps,  but  VICTORY  perches 
on  the  bayonet  and  glitters  along  the  barrel  of 
the  trusty  rifle  in  the  ranks.  The  private  soldier 
who  plods  wearily  along  the  dusty  road,  and 
cheerfully  bears  the  burdens  of  the  most  arduous 
and  exacting  campaigns,  is  the  true  personifica- 
tion of  heroism.  Without  a  murmur  and  with- 
out complaint;  leading  a  life  of  constant  inse- 
security;  with  no  personal  consideration;  actuated 
only  by  a  patriotic  love  of  country,  he  flings  his 
apparently  worthless  life  away,  those  hallowed 
words,  GOD  and  MOTHER,  lingering  on  his  dying 
lips. 

And  the  sacrifice  is  not  in  vain.  It  has  cost 
much  of  treasure  and  of  blood,  to  maintain  the 
integrity  of  our  civil  and  religious  institutions, 
but  the  Government  is  worth  all,  and  more  than 
all  this  lavish  expenditure.  Better,  far  better, 
that  the  whole  population  of  the  United  States, 
both  North  and  South,  should  be  swept  from  the 
face  of  the  earth,  that  the  Mayflower  might  land 
another  cargo  of  refugees  on  Plymouth  Rock, 
and  that  the  trackless  forests  of  Massachusetts 

• 

should  be  opened  to  the  spread  of  civilization  by 
another  band  of  devoted  Christian  men,  than  that 
the  sun  should  he  turned  back  on  the  dial  of  the 
world's  progress  hy  the  success  of  Secession  or 
Rebellion.  A  voice  comes  from  the  silent  graves 
of  Manassas,  of  Donelson,  of  Shiloh,  of  the 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  393 

Malvern  Hills,  and  of  other  hard  contested 
fields,  admonishing  us  to  secure  at  all  hazards, 
and  to  maintain  inviolate  the  perpetuity  of  the 
Union  of  all  the  States. 

Oh,  the  ravages  of  war !  The  blighted  hopes, 
the  bleeding  hearts,  the  desolated  hearth-stones 
at  home  !  The  tented  field,  the  bloody  strife,  the 
nameless  graves  abroad !  How  many  of  our 
comrades,  buoyant  with  hope  and  glowing  an- 
ticipations of  the  future,  have  left  their  bones 
bleaching  on  a  Southern  soil,  while  the  Father 
of  Waters  sings  their  sad  requiem  as  he  flows 
to  the  Gulf.  They  being  dead,  yet  speak;  and 
their  memories  are  as  fresh  in  our  hearts  to-day 
as  when  we  buried  them  on  the  battle-field,  or 
in  the  levee  at  Young's  Point  and  Milliken's 
Bend.  And  it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  a  gen- 
erous government  has  gathered  up  their  mortal 
remains  wherever  they  could  be  found,  and  has 
laid  them  away  tenderly  in  our  National  Ceme- 
teries. Twenty  of  our  comrades  of  the  Seventy- 
Seventh,  whose  remains  could  be  identified,  now 
repose  quietly  in  the  National  Cemetery  at 
Vicksburg.  They  were  gathered  up  here  and 
there;  some  on  the  battle-field,  and  some  in  the 
levee  across  the  river. 

Mother,  yours  was  a  noble  sacrifice.     That  son, 

your  pride  and  the  hope  of  your  declining  years, 

was  placed  upon  the  altar  of  his  country,  with 

your  parting  benediction  upon  his  head.     While 

25 


394  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

your  heartstrings  were  snapping  and  your  tem- 
ples throbbing  at  the  separation,  you  conjured 
him  with  more  than  Spartan  fortitude,  by  all  his 
hopes  of  immortality,  by  all  the  sacred  associa- 
tions of  the  home  circle,  by  all  the  treasured 
objects  of  affection  he  was  leaving  behind  him, 
to  fall  manfully  on  the  field  of  strife,  with  his 
face  to  the  foe,  rather  than  return  to  your  em- 
brace with  the  brand  of  dishonor  resting  upon 
him.  Your  self-sacrificing  injunctions  were  re- 
ligiously observed. 

Wife,  the  partner  of  your  joys  and  sorrows, 
to  whom  in  youth  you  plighted  your  affec- 
tions, and  on  whom  you  leaned  for  support  and 
protection,  died  in  a  sacred  cause,  at  the  cannon's 
mouth,  and  in  a  blaze  of  imperishable  glory. 
Although  your  loss  was  irreparable,  well  may 
you  rejoice  at  the  record  of  his  daring.  Tie  left 
a  name  untarnished  by  any  imputation  of  cow- 
ardice or  disloyalty  —  an  honored  name  which 
you  are  proud  to  bear. 

Sister,  your  idolized  brother  was  another 
martyr  in  behalf  of  man's  inalienable  birthright 
—  "Life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness." 
Your  heart,  perhaps,  was  desolate,  yon  missed 
him  in  the  social  gathering,  there  was  a  vacant 
chair  at  the  fireside,  the  sacred  shrine  of  home 
lost  one  of  its  ornaments,  and  that  ornament 
reposes  in  an  unknown  grave  in  a  distant  State. 

Daughter,  your   father  left  you    a  legacy  of 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  395 

honor  more  enduring  than  the  victor's  laurel 
crown,  or  the  diadem  of  princes.  He  wrote  his 
name  in  living  characters,  high  on  the  scroll  of 
immortal  fame,  and  there  it  shall  remain  in- 
scribed forever,  the  admiration  of  posterity,  and 
an  example  worthy  of  imitation. 

Mother,  wife,  sister,  daughter,  go  and  garland 
the  graves  of  the  slain  patriots.  Embalm  their 
memories  in  your  hearts,  and  rehearse  the  story 
of  their  noble  deeds  to  the  generations  follow- 
ing. Let  the  prattling  lips  of  infancy  learn  to 
lisp  their  praises,  and  the  aspiring  youth  to  em- 
ulate their  virtues  and  rival  their  patriotic  devo- 
tion. 

Comrades,  it  was  not  on  the  field  of  battle 
that  your  greatest  losses  were  sustained.  Disease 
was  a  greater  scourge  than  shot  and  shell.  And 
how  many  —  oh,  how  many  —  fell  by  the  way- 
side, and  were  buried  in  Kentucky,  in  Tennes- 
see, in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Mississippi,  Alabama, 
Texas,  and  by  the  dark  lagoons  of  Louisiana. 
At  Arkansas  Post,  at  Vicksburg,  at  Mansfield,  at 
Mobile,  and  all  along  the  line  of  march,  you 
dug  your  graves,  interred  your  noble  dead  and 
planted  your  tombstones,  the  sad  memorials  of 
your  march.  The  chaplets  of  fame  and  the 
homage  of  a  nation's  gratitude  cluster  thickly 
in  those  consecrated  burial  grounds. 

As  the  years  come  and  go,  we  are  falling  by 
the  way.  One  by  one  onr  places  are  becoming 


396  THE    SEVENTY-SEVENTH. 

vacant.  Here  and  there  along  the  line  of  march, 
the  little  mounds  of  earth,  covering  the  soldiers' 
clay,  are  multiplying  in  our  burial  grounds.  But 
while  we  live,  let  us  not  forget  the  past.  Let  us 
cling  to  the  sacred  memories  of  the  war,  and 
preserve  inviolate  the  friendships  "  welded  in  the 
fire  of  battle."  And  let  us  cherish  —  ever  fondly 
cherish — the  memory  of  our  patriotic  dead.  On 
the  annual  return  of  each  memorial  day,  let  us 
gather  our  garlands  of  flowers,  and  strew  them, 
an  offering  of  sweet  incense,  on  their  graves. 
And  there,  kneeling  at  those  hallowed  shrines, 
renew  our  allegiance  to  the  principles  for  which 
they  died.  And  above  all,  let  us  be  true  to  our 
Country  and  our  Flag.  "  With  malice  toward 
none,  and  with  charity  for  all,"  let  us  never, 
NEVER,  NEVER,  clasp  fraternal  hands  across  the 
"bloody  chasm,"  on  any  other  terms  than  uncon- 
ditional loyalty  to  the  powers  that  be.  So  shall  we 
best  exemplify  our  devotion  to  the  principles 
inculcated  by  the  three  cardinal  virtues  of  the 
soldier's  creed : 


— IJOYALTY. 


THE    END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


HISTORY  OF  THE  77TH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEER  I 


